The No. 2 Shippensburg University field hockey team fell behind after just three minutes to the No. 9 Mount Union Trojans but stormed back with four unanswered goals to take its season opener during a sunny Friday afternoon at Robb Sports Complex, 4-1.
The Raiders (1-0) answered the Trojans’ opening tally just thirty seconds later courtesy of freshman Hannah White (Princess Anne, Md/Washington). Sophomore Agus Garibaldi (Recoleta, Argentina/Colegio San Agustin), junior Tess Jedeloo (Amsterdam, The Netherlands/Hervormd Lyceum Zuid) and junior Nya Gilchrist (Ocean City, N.J./Ocean City) also opened up their goal-scoring account for the 2023 season.
Shippensburg dominated the first three quarters, out-shooting the visiting Trojans 14-to-4 and winning the penalty corner battle 5-to-0 after the first 45 minutes, but it was Mount Union’s Nikki Bos that found the back of the cage first as a result of a quick counterattack early on.
The Raiders quickly got off the turf and fought back, and White deflected a Jedeloo shot from a Shippensburg penalty corner to even the score.
Midway through the second quarter, redshirt-freshman Alexa Michielsen (Bloemendaal, The Netherlands/International School of Amsterdam) delivered a goal mouth cross to Garibaldi, who slammed the ball past the Mount Olive keeper at the far post to give the Raiders their first lead, 2-1.
Jedeloo increased the Raider advantage eight minutes into the second half with a penalty corner goal off a Garibaldi assist, and Gilchrist finished the SU run with a deflection off a drive from sophomore Plinke Hillen (Amsterdam, The Netherland/Fons Vitae Lyceum).
The Trojans managed to regroup, putting immense pressure on the Raider defense over the course of the final 15 minutes. The visitors recorded eight shots and earned three penalty corners in the fourth quarter alone, but the Raiders would not budge.
Junior goalkeeper Lindsay Tripodo (Gibbsboro, N.J./Eastern Regional) made three fourth quarter saves. Redshirt-sophomore Emma Albee (Basking Ridge, N.J./Ridge) got the start in the cage and was credited with a save.
The Raiders return to action Saturday when they host the Belmont Abbey Crusaders at 4 p.m.
