SCRANTON, PA (October 22, 2022) – Susquehanna field hockey travelled to Scranton on Saturday afternoon with a chance to clinch the number one seed in the Landmark Conference with a victory. It was not to be for the River Hawks though, as they fell 2-0 to Scranton and the two teams now have matching 5-1 records in the conference, with Scranton in first on the head-to-head tiebreaker.
The pressure was on the River Hawks from the opening moments, with goalie Mackenzie Bross having to save a shot less than two minutes in and then making another save on a Scranton penalty stroke just thirty seconds later. This would be indicative of the way most of the game would be for SU, with Bross turning in a stellar performance to turn away numerous Scranton attacks.
Susquehanna would tally a single shot in each of the first three periods, with Katie Bucher having a shot blocked in the first, while Annalee Smith would put the River Hawks' first shot on goal early in the second period off of a penalty corner. It would be saved by the Scranton goalie though, keeping the game scoreless until Scranton found the back of the cage just over two minutes later. Producing three shots within thirty seconds, the Royals had an initial shot off a penalty corner saved, eventually got the ball back in the circle, had Bross save another before getting ahold of the rebound and putting it home. Bross would save one more before halftime to keep the score at 1-0.
The third period was quiet for both teams and Susquehanna would end up having the only shot of the period, with Rebecca Ripans forcing another save from the Royals' goalie, but remaining unable to get on the scoreboard. Scranton would then reignite their pressure in the fourth, tallying five penalty corners and nine shots, forcing five saves from Bross in just the quarter and scoring the late insurance goal to seal the win.
Susquehanna still holds a chance to claim the first seed in the Landmark for the first time in program history, but will now need help from outside sources, as they will need to win at home over Drew University and have the Royals lose to Juniata College on the road, next weekend on October 29th. Those matches are scheduled to begin at 1 pm. Before then, SU will have one final non-conference match at home, hosting Marywood University on Wednesday the 26th. That match will begin at 5 pm.
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--RIVER HAWKS--
