SELINSGROVE, PA (September 13, 2023) – The Susquehanna field hockey team got back to winning ways in dominant fashion on Wednesday evening, cruising to a 7-1 victory over visiting King's College. Sophia Prata headlined a slew of strong individual performances, tallying three goals to lead the way for the River Hawks.
SU scored early and often, with senior Kate Bucher scoring the first of her two goals on the night just four minutes into the game to get things started, firing home on a brilliantly executed penalty corner play. Prata then scored her first a few minutes later, jumping on the ball in a scrum in front of goal and burying the chance.
The junior forward would get right back to work in the second quarter, scoring again just a couple minutes into the period to make the score 3-0. The River Hawks would continue to pepper the goal throughout the period with seven shots in the quarter, but ultimately ended the half with the score remaining 3-0.
But Prata would start things once more in the third quarter, scoring her third goal less than a minute into the second half off of a great assist from Emma Campiteli. Bucher then added her second of the night just over thirty seconds later, another absolute rocket from the top of the circle on a penalty corner play. In all, SU would have ten penalty corners on the night, compared to just two for the visiting Monarchs.
King's did get on the board a few minutes later, scoring on their very first shot of the game from seemingly nowhere when a lengthy drive into the box bounced off a stick before deflecting off the stick of Jessie Smalley into the cage.
The River Hawks did not blink though, getting right back to scoring with Kari Schmidt making the score 6-1 just 34 seconds later, tapping home an assist from Ella DeFazio. SU would light the lamp one more time in the fourth quarter, with Lexi Fumanti making a great athletic play to dive to reach a ball bouncing across the goal-face and poking it home at the back corner.
In all, SU finished the night with 26 shots and 16 of them on goal, overmatching the two shots of the Monarchs. Their goalkeeper made nine saves, helping to stem the tide of scoring slightly. Meanwhile, Ashley Derrick picked up her second win of the season in goal, needing to make just one save on the night.
SU will now be looking to the weekend, as they'll kick off Landmark Conference play on the road, visiting Drew University on Saturday for a 1 pm start. Having beaten the Rangers 3-0 on Senior Day to finish out the regular season last year, the River Hawks will hope to make it two in a row and get off on the right foot in conference competition.
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--RIVER HAWKS--
