By Jack Poleto
Sports Editor
On Oct. 22, Shorewomen field hockey made the trek to the Muhlenberg Mules looking to get yet another Centennial Conference win.
The Shorewomen started off the game quickly with senior midfielder Jillian Brejnik making her way downfield early to take a shot on goal in the first minute. The team brought the ball back down to the Mules’ goal with another attempt by freshman midfielder MaryCate Anson.
As the first period came to a close, Anson took another shot on goal with five seconds remaining that the Mules’ goalkeeper saved. The Shorewomen went into the break tied with Muhlenberg at 0-0.
The second period was off to a slow start for both sides, with neither taking a shot until the Shorewomen’s leading scorer Kat Esposito took her first shot of the game in minute 23 but it was blocked by the Mules’ goalkeeper.
Later in the second period, junior goalkeeper Ava Rivera made her first save of the game following a Muhlenberg penalty corner. Following her effort, the second period came to an end with both teams still scoreless.
As the third period was underway, the Mules took a shot in minute 31, where Rivera made her second save of the game. She would make another save six minutes later which would keep the Shorewomen fighting for a win heading into the fourth period.
For the final period of regulation, Muhlenberg dominated early with the ball being kept on the Shorewomen side of the field for five minutes. The Mules took a total of four shots in this time, two of which were saved by Rivera and two that were blocked by the Shorewomen.
The remaining ten minutes of the fourth period were dominated by the Shorewomen thanks to two shots on goal coming from Esposito and another one from Anson. The two teams ended regulation time tied at 0-0, forcing the game to go to golden goal overtime.
The ten minute overtime was largely characterized by pressure from the Shorewomen. An early penalty corner from sophomore midfielder Zoe Shevitz allowed for senior midfielder Anna Harrington to take a shot on goal that was blocked. Senior forward Julianna Sterling got possession of the ball back for the Shorewomen and ripped another shot that would be missed wide of the goal.
Following a penalty corner from freshman midfielder Jules Weglarz, Sterling would take another shot on the goal that was blocked by Muhlenberg. The Shorewomen’s pressure was ended after Esposito took her third shot of the game and missed wide. The game then had to go to a second overtime with the first goal ending the long fight to see which school will be victorious.
As the game went into minute 77, Weglarz took another penalty corner which led to a shot from Harrington that would ricochet off of the Mules’ goalkeeper into the possession of Esposito. She immediately took a shot on goal that Muhlenberg could not save ending the game and sending the Shorewomen home with a win.
The Shorewomen outshot the Mules 18-14 with ten of those shots being on goal. The team was led by Rivera with six saves and on offense with Esposito’s five shots and one goal in tandem with Harrington’s five shots.
Shorewomen field hockey has their final game of the season at home against Dickinson College on Oct. 29.
Photo by Katie Tack
Photo Caption: Sophomore midfielder Zoe Shevitz moving the ball past defenders in home game versus Franklin and Marshall.