Szykowny's Late-Goal Gives 'Cats Win Over Longwood

Saturday, October 31

Davidson, N.C.

1:00 p.m.

Davidson College

Longwood

Ellie Szykowny

Szykowny's Late-Goal Gives 'Cats Win Over Longwood

10/31/2009 3:54:56 PM | Field Hockey

By: Mark Brumbaugh

Box Score

DAVIDSON, N.C. – Ellie Szykowny scored the game-winning goal with just 2:38 remaining as Davidson field hockey rallied in the final minutes to earn a 4-2 win over NorPac East foe Longwood on Saturday at Belk Turf Field.

Longwood (8-9, 3-2 NorPac East) took a 2-1 advantage with 16:54 remaining, but a goal from sophomore Hannah English (Louisville, Ky.) off a corner from Szykowny (Columbus, Ohio) just over a minute later knotted the game at two. Szykowny then tipped in a pass from English with less than three minutes remaining for the go-ahead goal. Junior Jennie Mostellar (New Bern, N.C.) tipped in a pass from junior Clare Perry (Winston-Salem, N.C.) for a goal to ice the win with just 29 seconds remaining.

Mostellar led Davidson (6-11, 2-4 NorPac East) with two goals, while Szykowny and English each registered a goal and an assist. Perry had two assists.

“All of their hard work is paying off,” said Davidson head coach Ginny Sutton. “We're peaking at the right time and put together a great 70 minutes today.

Davidson scored first in the 13th minute on a play that started off a penalty corner. Perry passed the ball from the top of the circle, just left of the net to Mostellar, who tipped it in for the goal. The lead was short-lived though as Longwood was awarded a penalty stroke in the 15th minute. Lauren van de Kamp converted the opportunity to equalize the game at one.

The game remained tied until midway through the second half when van de Kamp tipped a shot inside the left post off a corner attempt. Kelsey Turner and Julia Hernandez were credited with the assists.

The 'Cats responded though on their next penalty corner opportunity. Szykowny passed it directly to English at the top of the circle, left of the goal. With little defensive pressure, English was able to blast a hard shot past goalkeeper Erin Bollinger to erase Longwood's advantage.

Both teams maintained offensive pressure, as Bollinger and Davidson goalkeeper Christa Goeke were both tested. The 'Cats were able to breakthrough though with 2:38 remaining as English sent a pass from left of the net across to Szykowny, who tipped it in at the goal line for the game-winner.

A corner opportunity in the final seconds for Davidson resulted in the fourth-and-final goal. Mostellar tipped in a shot from Perry to secure the win.

Bollinger and Goeke both made fives saves each. Davidson outshot Longwood 15-13 and led in penalty corners, 8-6.

The game marked the final regular season game of the season for the 'Cats. Seniors GK Mary Clay (Louisville, Ky.), MF Liz Luckey (Richmond, Va.) and Goeke were both honored before the game.

“We had a great effort today, and no we're looking forward to going out to California for the conference tournament, ” said Sutton.

The 'Cats will next compete in the NorPac Tournament in Stanford, Calif. on Nov. 5-7. Seeding and matchups will be finalized after the other remaining NorPac contests are completed