READING, Pa. – Behind two second half goals in a span of 41 seconds, the Albright Lions field hockey team defeated Scranton 2-0 in non-conference action at Shirk Stadium on Wednesday night.
With the win, the Lions improve to 5-6 overall and avenge a 2-1 loss to the Royals from a season ago. Meanwhile, the Royals of the Landmark Conference fall to 9-2 on the season overall.
Defense was the name of the game early as neither team registered a shot until the 11
th minute when junior
Kaley Donmoyer had her shot deflected wide of the cage by the Royal goalkeeper. The Lions then had another decent look when junior
Marley Berger had a shot deflected over the net. Scranton would make a last minute push in the first half with two penalty corner opportunities, but were unable to get on the board despite two decent looks.
Scranton saw its first shot of the second half bounce off the left post in the 38
th minute on the best look of the game at that point. The Lions final broke the scoreless tie in the 52
nd minute when senior
Annette Helmandollar redirected an initial shot from junior
Bailey Lehman past the Royals goalkeeper to take a 1-0 lead. The Lions then went on another rush following the goal and was able to draw a penalty stroke opportunity following contact in the box. Berger took the penalty stroke and ripped it past the Scranton goalkeeper to give the Lions a 2-0 lead. The Royals got one last great chance in the 66
th minute to get on the scoreboard, but the shot was push wide past a wide open left side of the cage following a cross from the right.
Each team posted seven shots for the game with the Lions having six of their shots go on net. The Royals held a slight 6-5 advantage in penalty corners after receiving back-to-back ones in the final four minutes of the game. Sophomore goalkeeper
Brynne Schoppe tallied her second-straight shutout after making three saves in the full 70 minutes. Royals goalkeeper Jenna Cyr suffered the loss after making three saves in the entire 70 minutes.
The Lions will return to action on Saturday, October 6
th when they will travel to face #2 Messiah in MAC Commonwealth play at 1 p.m.
