LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University field hockey team (3-4, 1-0 A-10) opened Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10) play this afternoon with a thrilling 2-1 (shootout) victory over visiting Davidson (1-7, 0-2 A-10).
 
The difference in the outcome of the match came in the shootout, as the Bald Eagles were able to convert a pair of attempts to Davidson's zero. At the end of regulation, the two teams were tied at 1-1, and after two overtime periods (20 total minutes of overtime), the game remained deadlocked at 1-1, forcing the shootout.
 
It marked Lock Haven's second shootout in as many games, and the victory today helped the Bald Eagles snap a three-game skid.
 
LHU moved to 3-4 overall and sits at 1-0 in league play after the conference-opening win.
 
Amy Stevens (Castle Creek, N.Y./Whitney Point) put Lock Haven up 1-0 early in the contest (12^th minute of the first quarter). She rocketed the ball far post after standout-defender Karina Long (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) played a perfect pass into the crease. It marked the first goal of Stevens' LHU career. She's been a leader so far this season for the LHU offense.
 
Goalkeeper Joaquina Orlandini (Concordi, Entre Rios, Argentina/San Antonio School) was called upon to make one big save down the stretch and she did just that, before her brilliance took over in the shootout.
 
During regulation, the LHU defense played well. Leading the way in that category was Tia Judy (East Prospect, Pa./Homeschooled), Emily Robb (Millersville, Pa./ Penn Manor), Taylor Plouse (Middletown, Pa./Lower Dauphin), Kayla Brathwaite (Arouca, Trinidad and Tobago/Bishop Anstey East) and Niamh Sexton (Fermoy, Ireland/Loreto Secondary School Fermoy). All of them played a huge role in getting the win today and putting the Bald Eagles back on track, thanks to the thrilling A-10 victory.
 
Rookie Jazmin Palma (Entre Rios Province, Argentina./Colegio Sagrado Corazon de Jesus) also stood out once again, but it was a total team effort, and every clutch play was pivotal in the outcome.
 
Some of Brathwaite's best play came in overtime, particularly in the first overtime period, as she controlled the flow of the game with her tenacious defending and speed.
 
Early in the second overtime, Palma forced the Davidson goalkeeper to make a lunging stop. As time expired in the second-OT, Palma bolted toward goal from midfield and sent a shot to the far post, which just trickled wide left.
 
After Lock Haven and Davidson both failed to convert on each of their first two attempts in the shootout, LHU got the markers they needed. Both Brathwaite and Palma scored after strong individual efforts. Orlandini was not to be outdone and her quick pressure put the Wildcats shooters on edge. She also made an outstanding kick save to keep the shootout level at 0-0 through two shots.
 
A-10 opener:
Today's match marked LHU's 2019 A-10 opener. The Bald Eagles were picked fifth in the A-10 Preseason Coaches' poll (8/19/19). Saint Joseph's, the defending A-10 champions, received eight of nine first-place votes and was picked as the preseason-favorite. Virginia Commonwealth checked in at No. 2 and Massachusetts rounded out the top-three teams. Richmond checked in at No. 4, one spot ahead of the Bald Eagles, who were slotted in the No. 5 spot. Lock Haven was followed by No. 6 La Salle, No. 7 Saint Francis, No. 8 Davidson and No. 9 Saint Louis. Last season, the Bald Eagles were 3-5 in A-10 action, thanks to wins over Davidson, Saint Louis and La Salle. All three conference wins came by way of a shutout and LHU outscored their conference foes 9-0 in those three games.
 
Up next:
Today's home match vs. Davidson marked the second of four straight for Lock Haven at home. Next weekend is LHU's 2019 Homecoming Weekend and the Bald Eagles will host a pair of games on Charlotte E. Smith Field. Next up for the Bald Eagles is Richmond on Friday, September 27 at 3 p.m. LHU will cap Homecoming Weekend 2019 with a home non-conference contest vs. Long Island on Sunday, September 29 at 1 p.m.