MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – The sixth-ranked Millersville field hockey team received a goal and an assist from
Kate Strickland and opened its PSAC schedule with a 2-0 win over Indiana (Pa.) Saturday.
Millersville, now 8-0 (1-0 PSAC, won the battle of the unbeaten with two second-half goals, on both of which Strickland contributed.
Kortlin Yetter's third-quarter goal was the not only the first of her career but stood as the game-winner. Strickland has now scored six goals in her last three games played.
The loss was IUP's (5-1, 0-1 PSAC) first of the season.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
• After playing a scoreless first half, Millersville broke the 0-0 tie seven minutes into the third when Strickland won a scramble in front of the cage and pushed a pass through several defenders to Yetter, who was positioned on the right post. Yetter quickly planted the ball past the keeper's right side for a 1-0 lead.
• Strickland's insurance goal came one minute into the fourth quarter. It came on a skillful individual effort in which she outworked a trio of Crimson Hawks and maneuvered around traffic into a clearing to the right of the cage. From there, she flipped the ball high over the keeper into the top of the cage.
• Millersville goalkeeper
Kerstin Koons, who made a career-high four saves and withstood the most shots she's faced in a game all season, denied a penalty stroke with 11:38 remaining in the game, keeping the shutout intact.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Millersville held a 16-9 edge in shots (8-4 on goal) and a 12-6 edge in penalty corners.
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Morgan Saunders and Yetter shared the team lead in shots with three apiece.
REACTION FROM COACH SHELLY BEHRENS
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Overall thoughts on the game: "We break the seasons into thirds--before PSAC, PSAC, and whatever we've earned after that. It was a nice home win. A great IUP team. Any team in the PSAC on any given day is tough. I thought we made some good adjustments at halftime and the kids responded with those adjustments."
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On halftime adjustments: "We were passing into them instead of connect with each other. From a defensive perspective, we made some slight adjustments in our press, some things from our strikers. They really set the tone up front. Their ability to play disciplined defense led to those two goals."
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On performance of Koons: "She was spot on today. She played well in the field of play and had a good presence with the defense. Maybe she hasn't played the number of balls in games that she did today, but she's seeing so many shots every day in practice. She's one of the most consistent goalkeepers in training and carrying it over. Our goalkeepers are getting better everyday and that's all you can ask for."
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On the goals scored: "We practice different levels of shots in and around the net. That's the confidence they have now in using those shots. Kate's a difference-maker. Kortlin stepped up today. She's been doing a great job in training to see that parallel from our training to the games is a great pay off."
NOTES
• Koons posted her fourth shutout of the season.
• Millersville won its second-straight PSAC opener. Millersville has won eight of the last nine against IUP.
UP NEXT
• Millersville travels to West Chester for a key PSAC match-up on Wednesday, Sept. 29. Start time is 4 p.m.
