LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Behind late heroics, the Lock Haven field hockey team (5-0) kept their undefeated season alive with a 2-1 win over non-conference opponent Central Michigan University (1-5) on a rainy Sunday afternoon at Charlotte E. Smith Field.
The 5-0 start for the Bald Eagles is the programs best since 2015, when LHU opened the season at 6-0.
Lock Haven controlled nearly the entire first half, and held a commanding 16-1 lead in shots. However, in the second quarter the Chippewas found a goal from a penalty corner to take a 1-0 lead into halftime.
After a scoreless third quarter, Central Michigan looked poise to pull off the upset until
Constanza Lopez Zabala (Buenos Aires, Argentina/Colegio (Martin y Omar)) knocked in a perfect cross from
Amy Stevens (Castle Creek, N.Y./Whitney Point) to knot the game up at 1-1 with just under 14 minutes to play.
As the clock ticked under ten minutes to play, the Bald Eagles won a penalty corner and
Jazmin Palma (Entre Rios Providence Argentina/Colegio Sagrado Corazon de Jesus) capitalized with a laser shot past the keeper to put The Haven ahead 2-1 after a well-worked routine with Stevens, who earned assists on both of the LHU goals.
In the final minutes, the Bald Eagle defense stood strong as it had all afternoon and brought home the 2-1 win to push the undefeated start to the season to 5-0.
In total, LHU held a stark 23-1 advantage in shots, including 17 on goal.
Central Michigan goalkeeper Maja Halasz was forced into an impressive 15 saves.
Defensively, Palma led the unit of
Megan Beppler (West Pittston, Pa./Wyoming Area),
Ellie Mead (Chesterfield, Va./Cosby (Coker)), and
Florance de Kroon (Driebergen-Rijsenburg, Netherlands/ Jordan Montessori Lyceum Utrecht) who stifled the Chippewa attack to just one shot all afternoon.
The LHU advantage was also distinct from penalty corners as The Haven led 14-1.
Up Next:
The Haven returns home for the final two games of a six-game homestand next weekend. Starting on Friday, LHU hosts Atlantic-10 opponent La Salle at 3 p.m.
