Posted: Oct 10, 2012
MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – Penn State Harrisburg got off to a slow start in the team's non-conference matchup against the visitors from Goucher on Wednesday, Oct. 10. The Gophers scored twice in the first half before the blue and white roared back and played a strong second period. Unfortunately, the Lions' improved play and frequent chances produced no points as the ladies eventually fell 2-0.
The match proved to be a defensive struggle in the early going as both teams struggled to produce any real scoring chances. In the 29th minute however, Goucher took advantage of a golden opportunity when Caroline McDowell (Alfred, N.Y. / Alfred-Almond Central) made a great crossing pass to Sarah Eaby (New Holland, Pa. / Lancaster Country Day School), who headed the ball past a diving Mackenzie Gates (Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin) for the first score of the evening.
The Gophers' second goal of the contest came just before the break when Shay Kettner (Baltimore, Md. / Perry Hall) gathered a loose ball in front of the net and struck it just past Gates' outstretched hands and into the back of the net.
The second half was a different story. The Lions kept the ball in Goucher's half of the pitch for the majority of the period and when she had to, Gates made key saves that kept the deficit at 2-0, including an impressive kick save that denied Sherlanda Buskey (Williamsburg, Va. / Jamestown) a breakaway score.
Penn State Harrisburg also outshot the Gohpers in the second half but decent looks by Rachel Shetler (Pequea, Pa. / Penn Manor) and Morgan Gates (Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin) could not be converted.
Even Goucher's back-to-back yellow cards for delay-of-game in the final four minutes that produced two free kicks did not bounce the Lions way on this night.
In the end, the blue and white's advantage in play in the final 45 minutes proved too little too late. Still there were good things to take away from the defeat to a very strong 10-2-1 Gopher squad.
The defensive trio of reigning North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) first-team all-league selection Lindsey Haldeman (Grantville, Pa. / Hershey Christian), Morgan Gates and Kristin Peckman (Chambersburg, Pa. / James Buchanan) shut down Buskey, the Gophers' top offensive threat, and kept her from adding to her team-leading 11 goals on the year.
Tabby Pranke (Seven Valleys, Pa. / Spring Grove) and Lauren Ertl (Wildwood, N.J. / Williamstown) also played well at the midfield/defender spots and allowed very little in the way of penetration in the Lions' backfield. Penn State Harrisburg Head Coach Adam Clay was pleased with his ladies' effort against a tough opponent.
"The girls played well today," he said. "The goals didn't fall our way but our overall play was very solid. Other than the late goal we gave up, they did everything I asked of them and we continue to improve every game."
The loss dropped the blue and white to 7-5 on the season. The good news is that the defeat doesn't hurt the Lions in the conference standings. With a 6-1 record in NEAC play, the ladies still sit third in the standings, behind only undefeated Penn State Berks and defending champion Lancaster Bible.
Penn State Harrisburg will look to add to its conference win total when the Lions host Cazenovia in their net outing this Saturday, Oct 13.