Early Goals Lead Field Hockey Past Longwood

MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State field hockey team capitalized on an early penalty stroke goal from junior midfielder Emma van Hal and never looked back, scoring a 3-1 victory over visiting Longwood Friday afternoon at the Briner Sports Complex.

It was van Hal's team-leading fifth goal of the season and one of two first period tallies for the Cardinals (2-7; 1-2 Mid-American Conference) who out-shot the visiting Lancers (3-6; 1-3 MAC) by a 20-8 margin.

After the opening goal a little over five minutes into the contest, sophomore forward Julia Verratti found the back of the cage for the first time in her collegiate career, corralling a loose ball and firing it past the Longwood keeper in the 11th minute.

The score remained 2-0 until early in third period when senior forward Jenna Wyckoff tallied her first goal of the season to give Ball State a three-score advantage. After the original shot by graduate forward Paloma Gomez Rengifo was saved, Wyckoff snuck behind the Lancers defense and deposited the ball into the goal.

The third Ball State goal, which came in the game's 33rd minute, also gave Rengifo her third assist of the season.

On the defensive front, graduate goalkeeper Hannah Johnston made some clutch saves early to help shutdown the Longwood offense. The lone blemish to her five-save outing was a Lancers' 57th-minute tally which was redirected twice before entering the goal.

In addition to its edge in goals and shots, Ball State was able to draw six penalty corners to Longwood's three.

The Cardinals will have a week to prepare for its next outing, a 3 p.m. start next Friday (Oct. 11) at Central Michigan.

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Team Stats

Emma van Hal

Jenna Wyckoff

Julia Verratti

Paloma Gomez Rengifo

Players Mentioned

Paloma Gomez Rengifo

Hannah Johnston

Emma van Hal

Julia Verratti

Jenna Wyckoff

Players Mentioned

Paloma Gomez Rengifo

Hannah Johnston

Emma van Hal

Julia Verratti

Jenna Wyckoff