The No. 4-ranked Shippensburg University field hockey team scored three second-quarter goals and held off No. 7 Slippery Rock for a 3-2 victory Wednesday at Robb Sports Complex.
Shippensburg improved to 6-2 overall and 1-1 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference play. Previously unbeaten Slippery Rock fell to 8-1 overall and 1-1 in the conference.
Annika Madeja opened the scoring 76 seconds into the second quarter, finishing a close-range chance after Elaina Fragassi sent the ball toward the goal. It was Madeja’s first goal of the season.
McKenna Boyle made it 2-0 about 10 minutes later after receiving a pass from Anne Gardner and maneuvering around Slippery Rock goalkeeper Sam Black. Hannah White added the third goal in the final 30 seconds of the half, carrying the ball 30 to 35 yards past three defenders before scoring on a reverse flick.
Slippery Rock scored twice in the third quarter. Hilary Hoffman scored 33 seconds after halftime, and Riley Cloude cut the deficit to 3-2 about seven minutes later on a penalty-corner shot that deflected off a Shippensburg defender’s stick.
The Raiders held a 15-2 advantage in shots on goal, while Slippery Rock led 8-4 in penalty corners. Black finished with 12 saves.
Slippery Rock earned a penalty corner in the final 90 seconds and pulled Black for an extra field player with 50 seconds remaining. Shippensburg held the lead, with White maintaining possession near the corner during the closing seconds.
Shippensburg hosts No. 6 Bloomsburg at Robb Sports Complex on Saturday at 11 a.m.
