(Posted September 15, 2005)

Richard Stockton 3, Juniata 1

Huntingdon, Pa. ? For the first 10 minutes of its home opener, the Juniata College field hockey team looked poised to snap its three-game losing streak, but a three-goal rally by visiting Richard Stockton sent Juniata to a 3-1 set-back in Huntingdon Thursday afternoon. The loss dropped Juniata to 1-4 while Richard Stockton improved to 3-4.

The Eagles came out as the aggressor as they had several early chances. The best chance came when the Eagles earned a penalty stroke five minutes into the match, but Richard Stockton keeper Caitlin Nolan turned away the stroke. Juniata maintained the pressure, however, and then broke through 10 minutes into the match. Sarah Bender (Eastern York/York) corralled a Meredith Low (Sun Valley/Aston) cross and knocked it past the keeper to put Juniata in front 1-0.

The visitors answered five minutes later as they scored off a penalty corner. Jen Jones controlled the ball after a scramble in the box and knocked it home off an assist from Aimee Rendine to knot the score at one.

The teams would remain deadlocked the remainder of the half though the Eagles out-shot the visitors 7-4.

Richard Stockton came out as the aggressor in the second half, and quickly took the lead. Courtney Clemons pounced on a loose ball and pushed it past Juniata keeper Andrea Way (Fair Haven Union/Fair Haven, Vt.) to give the visitors a 2-1 lead. Rendine earned an assist on the play.

Juniata would continue to pressure looking for the equalizer, but couldn?t find the net despite forcing eight penalty corners in the second half.

It was Stockton that added to the lead as they countered a Juniata attack and quickly broke into the Juniata end. The play ended with Clemens scoring her second goal of the game off an assist from Alison Capelli.

The Eagles continued to cut into the lead, getting several late shots but were unable to find the cage.

Nolan finished with seven saves in goal for Richard Stockton, while Way posted five saves for the Eagles.

Juniata will return to action on Saturday as the Eagles open conference play with a road match at Widener.

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Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.