MOUNT OLIVE (Sept. 7) – After falling into an early 2-0 deficit, the No. 7 ranked Trojans outscored IUP by a 5-1 margin over the final three quarters to earn a 5-3 victory in non-conference play at Ray McDonald Sr. Sports Complex on Saturday.
With the win, the University of Mount Olive field hockey team improves to 1-1 this season after facing a pair of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) opponents to begin the 2024 slate. It marks the second straight year that UMO has defeated IUP after claiming a 3-1 win in 2023. Meanwhile, the Crimson Hawks fall to 1-1 overall following two matches against South Atlantic Conference (SAC) foes.
IUP wasted little time in the first quarter after scoring just 63 seconds into the matchup to hold a 1-0 edge. The Trojans answered with a penalty corner but saw an opportunity blocked following the insert into the circle. Entering the second, the Crimson Hawks added to their advantage at the 18:53 mark to build a 2-0 lead. Mount Olive responded under a minute later as senior
Amber Dercksen netted her first goal of the season off a deflection with an assist awarded to junior transfer
Orla Folan, 2-1. In the closing minutes of the quarter, sophomore
Rosie Migounoff registered her first goal of the season off a pass from teammate
Jemimah Kriechelberg at the 27:25 mark.
The Trojans established their first lead of the contest in the initial minutes of the third as senior
Annefleur Moerkerken peppered a shot into the back of the cage with junior
Candice Wainschel registering an assist to take a 3-2 edge. Under a minute later at the 37:23 mark, the Crimson Hawks tied the contest at 3-3 after scoring off a turnover in the UMO defensive side. Senior
Sophia Frugoni reclaimed the lead for Mount Olive in the final minutes of the quarter after scoring off a rebound from a defensive save, 4-3. In the fourth quarter, Moerkerken sealed the 5-3 victory for the Trojans with her second goal of the game at the 50:43 mark off another assist from Kriechelberg.
Mount Olive out-shot IUP by a 21-10 margin while holding a 15-3 advantage in shots on goal. Additionally, the Trojans finished with an 11-8 edge in penalty corners.
UMO returns to action on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 11 a.m., when it faces Lincoln Memorial on the road in South Atlantic Conference play.
