Hershey field hockey decided to get wild Wednesday and try a bunch of new things.
The shocking part – it was in their first matchup against the 5-0 undefeated Falcons of Lower Dauphin. What’s even more shocking, the untested changes worked.
The Trojans defeated the Falcons 3-2 in a nailbiter contest at home. Hershey and Lower Dauphin compete in District 3, the Mid-Penn Conference Keystone Division. And, they’re very well-known as legendary rivals.
Both teams are ranked nationally by MAX Field Hockey, which published its preseason poll back in August. An updated poll will be published by the stats-based website on Sept 19.
Hershey was first on the board off a corner. Avery Weaber took a rocket shot that crashed into the top of the backboard from the top of the circle. The score was 1-0 just over two minutes into the second quarter.
Lower Dauphin got its first score in the third, when Katelyn Strawser chipped a shot inside the circle near the stroke that floated into the net. It happened 2 seconds before halftime.
Defensively, the Trojans strategically had their opponents up against the sidelines in double and triple teams. That play forced the Falcons to either use 3D skills or stickwork to find their flat pass.
Hershey continued to accurately read Lower Dauphin’s through ball, which stopped them from gaining forward movement. But, the Falcons’ were unstifled in the backfield when transferring the ball. The backline even stood right in front of the cage executing defensive saves.
Anne Gardner showed off her reverse hit, as she paced out her ball placement at a fast enough clip to drill it into the lower right pocket of the cage. Lower Dauphin’s defense wasn’t allowing her to take her shot, but in the fourth, she was able to bring the goalie with her and make it happen.
Back to even things up, Lower Dauphin’s Lily Rost was positioned in a great spot for a shot option. She was just a few feet in front of the goalie and near post. She received the ball on the move, turned, and pushed it toward cage. Hershey’s goalie was trying to find her angle and didn’t have her legs glued together, which allowed Rost to take advantage and make the score 2-2.
A corner was called with a few seconds remaining on the clock. As Hershey set up for its attack corner, it was all zeros once the ball was inserted. Riley Welsch passed the ball wide to Gardner, who hit it into the circle – even with a bobbled start – and Megan McDonald was just where she needed to be to tap it into the cage.
Hershey squeezed it out 3-2 with no time remaining.
Check back for the feature story.
Hershey 0-1-0-2: 3
Goals: Weaber, 1; Gardner, 1; McDonald, 1
Assists: Welsch, 1; McDonald, 1; Gardner, 1
Shots: 5
Penalty Corners: 4
Saves: Kylie Mullen, 7
Lower Dauphin 0-1-1-0: 2
Goals: Strawser, 1; Rost, 1
Assists: 0
Shots: 9
Penalty Corners: 7
Saves: Kai Killian, 4
