Davidson College
Pennsylvania
'Cats Rally for 4-3 Win Over Penn
9/12/2010 5:52:17 PM | Field Hockey
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – Penn turned a two-goal deficit into a one goal lead with three consecutive goals, but Annie Evans and Ellie Szykowny answered for Davidson to give the Wildcat field hockey team a 4-3 victory Sunday afternoon at William & Mary's Busch Field.
Junior Gray Robinson (Louisville, Ky.) and sophomore Finley Amato (Lake Forest, Ill.) gave Davidson a 2-0 lead early, but Kyle de Sandes-Moyer and Kirstin Snyder responded with goals late in the first half for Penn. Penn took a 3-2 lead on a goal from Sarah Hasson at 37:16, but Evans (Lake Forest, Ill.) was able to tie the game at three 36 seconds later. Szykowny (Columbus, Ohio) then notched the game-winner for Davidson in the 57th minute by tipping in a pass from junior Hannah English (Louisville, Ky.)
With the win Davidson improves to 5-1, matching their best start since 1999. Penn falls to 1-2.
On the game-winning play, English hit the ball into the circle, where Szykowny was able to deflect it into the top of the cage. Szykowny's game-winner was her first goal of the season, but her second consecutive game-winner dating back to last season, as her last goal came late in the crucial regular-season finale against Longwood. Davidson's defense clamped down after the go-ahead tally, blocking Penn's lone shot attempt in the final 13 minutes.
“We started off strong and the first two goals were awesome,” said Davidson head coach Ginny Turner. “Penn turned the pressure on though and we were sloppy with our recovery defense. The second half was very competitive, but we put our hearts into it and Ellie's tip for the game-winner was beautiful.”
Annie Matthews found Hasson, who flipped it over sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Fisher (Fredericksburg, Va.) to put Penn on top for the first time in the game early in the second half, but Evans got the 'Cats back on track immediately. The speedy midfielder charged down the middle of the field with the ball and slipped it underneath Penn goalkeeper Kieran Sweeney, who finished the game with nine saves.
It appeared that Davidson would take a 2-1 lead into the halftime break, but Penn was awarded an untimed penalty corner at the end of the first half, which Snyder converted with Hasson earning the assist to even the game at two,
Davidson came out firing to start the game, outshooting Penn 9-1 before Robinson scored the first goal of the match in the 10th minute with a shot from the top of the circle. Amato extended the lead to two in the 17th minute, tipping a shot in off the goalkeeper's pads on a feed from junior Christine Rua (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
The Wildcats finished the half with a 17-11 advantage in shots, and finished with a season-high 25 shots to Penn's 16. Fourteen Davidson shots were on goal, which matched the season-high the 'Cats set Friday against William & Mary. Matthews made a defensive save for Penn on a shot from Amato with 1:05 remaining in the match.
Fisher made six stops for Davidson, five of which came in the first half.
“It feels good to come away with the one win this weekend,” said Turner. “We still have a lot to work on, but every game shows improvement and we are excited with the direction the team is going.”
Davidson will play just their second home match so far this season Friday at 6 p.m. as they will host No. 8 Wake Forest.
Notes: Davidson has improved dramatically offensively in 2010, scoring three or more goals in each of the first six games after only scoring three or more goals five times in 2009 … Amato leads the team in scoring with six goals and two assists for 14 points … this was the first meeting between the Davidson and Penn field hockey teams.
