Riley Paces Saints in 5-2 Victory over Mustangs
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David PynchonErika Swits '12 scored her second goal of the season on Wednesday against the Mustangs.
Sept. 14: St. Lawrence University senior Emily Riley scoredthe game-winning goal and assisted on three others, leading the Saints fieldhockey team to a 5-2 victory over Morrisville State in her team's 2011 homeopener in Canton, NY.
The Saints improved to 3-1 after scoring four unansweredgoals, while the Mustangs fall to 0-3.
"Morrisville State did a nice job of capitalizing on theirchances early in the game, but I was pleased with the way we responded," saidSt. Lawrence head coach, whose team was in a 2-1 hole at one point. "Emily did an excellent job controlling theball in the midfield and creating scoring chances for herself and others."
Senior Taylor Vogt opened the scoring for the Saints atHall-Leet Stadium with her first goal of the season only 4:15 into thecontest. The Rochester, NY native scoredon Mustang goalie Laura Blumenfeld off of a rebound try in front, with anassist going to Riley on the tally.
Morrisville State would answer with consecutive goals lessthan 9:00 minutes apart to take a 2-1 lead midway through the first half. Rebecca Meyer pounced on a rebound in frontof St. Lawrence goalie Nicole Matos to tie the game at 1-1 at 11:13, whilePaige Jerrett gave the visitors the lead at 20:11. Sarah Angerer sent a crisp centering pass toJerrett cutting through the circle, and a one-timer slipped past Matos for a2-1 cushion.
St. Lawrence would rebound in style, though, scoring threegoals to end the first half and take a 4-2 lead into intermission. Junior Courtney Cartier would tie the game at2-2 a mere 23 seconds after Morrisville State took the lead, while Riley'sfourth goal of the season put the home team on top for good. The Saratoga Springs, NY native took the ballinto the circle and blitzed a high shot past Blumenfeld into the cage for a 3-2lead at 28:35.
Junior Ashley Ferenczy would cap the first half scoring,taking a pass from Riley in the middle of the circle and beating the goalie forher third goal of the year at 29:24.
St. Lawrence continued to pour on the offensive chances inthe second half thanks to excellent play in the midfield. Rookie Ali Ferenczy and sophomore KateHiggins did a solid job of keeping the ball in the Mustangs' end of the field,as did defenders Emma Berry and Julia Croyle.
Senior Erika Swits would put the game away with the final goalat 65:47. Riley got the play startedagain, as she dribbled the ball into the circle on a 4-on-1 try against aMorrisville defender. Riley slipped apass to her left to Swits, who scored on Blumenfeld for her second goal of theyear en route to the 5-2 victory.
St. Lawrence finished with a 26-13 advantage in shots, andheld an impressive 15-5 mark on penalty corners thanks to an 11-1 showing inthe second half.
Matos earned the win with five saves including a dazzling splitstop in the first half, while Blumenfeld suffered the loss despite making 11stops for Morrisville State.
St. Lawrence will look to extend its two-game win streakthis weekend when the team heads to Geneva, NY to take on Lebanon Valley andManhattanville at the 2011 William Smith Tournament. The Saints will square off with LebanonValley at 4:00pm on Saturday, September 17.