RICHMOND, Va. – The Lock Haven field hockey team (12-3, 5-1 A-10) notched a 2-1 victory over Virginia Commonwealth University (9-7, 3-3 A10) on Friday afternoon in an Atlantic 10 (A-10) Conference contest.
 
In what was a crucial matchup for both sides in the A-10 playoff push, the first period started slowly with only one shot from either side in a scoreless opening 15 minutes.
 
With 7:43 left in the opening half, Jazmin Palma (Entre Rios Providence Argentina/Colegio Sagrado Corazon de Jesus) got the Bald Eagles on the board when she fired home a well-executed penalty corner. Ellie Mead (Chesterfield, Va./Cosby (Coker)) and Brooke Hofsass (Hershey, Pa./Lower Dauphin) were both credited with assists on the set play.
 
The Rams knotted things up at 1-1 just before the start of the final period when Lonica McKinney notched her fourth goal of the season.
 
Freshman Brynlee Pinschenat (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) wasted no time handing the lead back to Lock Haven with the game-winning goal just a minute into the fourth period. Amy Stevens earned the assist on the decisive goal and the Bald Eagles earned the important conference victory 2-1.
 
With the win, Lock Haven's place in the 2022 Atlantic 10 postseason tournament is all but assured. The Bald Eagles remain tied for second in the conference standings with UMass. UMass and Lock Haven are both 5-1 in conference play and will meet next weekend.
 
VCU held a distinct 17-9 advantage in shots over Lock Haven, but an eight-save performance from Kelsey Felix (Hallam, Pa./Eastern York) preserved the win for The Haven.
 
Offensively, Martina Spangenberg (Buenos Aries, Argentina/Piaget) fired off four shots on the day. Hofsass and Alyssa Endrick (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South) were also strong in the effort.
 
Palma, Mead, Constanza Lopez Zabala (Buenos Aires, Argentina/Colegio Martin y Omar) and Victoria Scheer (Haarlem, Netherlands/Kennemer Lyceum) all racked up 60 minutes on the backline and were crucial to the defensive effort late in the game to help seal the victory.
 
Up Next:
The Haven faces off with local non-conference rival Bucknell on Sunday (Oct. 23). That road contest is set for a 12 p.m. start.