true Juniata 2, Gwynedd Mercy 1
2014 NCAA Tournament First-Round Game
BOX SCOREHUNTINGDON, PA. -- Gwynedd Mercy University bowed out of the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Tournament in a tough 2-1 loss at Juniata Wednesday evening.
The Griffins were first to get on the board when senior
Brittany Wilson (Huntingdon Valley, Pa. / Lower Moreland) Â assisted junior
Megan Senkeleski (Little Silver, N.J./ Red Bank) to go up 1-0 thirteen minutes into the first half. Although the Griffins would outshoot the Eagles 5-2 in the half and take the advantage in corners they were unable to hit their mark offensively.
Juniata would come out strong in the second half as they controlled the pace of the game with their offensive momentum. Sophomore Sarah Spencer (Florence, N.J. / Florence Township Memorial) redirected a through ball to junior Sarah Bilheimer (Bethlehem, Pa. / Freedom) to even up the score in the 57
th minute of play. Not long after, Spencer would score the eventual game winner on an assist from sophomore Allison Groft (Hanover, Pa. / South Western).
In the last two minutes of play the Griffins had three consecutive chances to even the score on penalty corners but the Eagles defense did not relent and knocked the ball out of play to secure the victory.
The Griffins would outshoot the Eagles 8-6 overall and take the advantage in corners at 12-7, however, Juniata's quick goals would carry them to the second round of playoffs.
Senior goaltender
Kelly Kruk (Phoenixville, Pa. / Methacon) would close out the day with three saves.Â
Gwynedd ends the 2014 campaign with an overall record of 15-6 also notching their fourth Colonial State Athletic Conference Championship in a row. Juniata will move on to face Wellesley on Saturday at Salisbury.
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