Dragon’s Career High Leads LIU to Victory

Ryutaro Takada
Staff Writer

No. 2 West Chester University took the win over No. 8 LIU Post, 1-0, in overtime on Tuesday, October 9, in a PSAC East field hockey contest at Hickox Field. West Chester Golden Rams’ senior midfielder Michele Schrift shot the game-winning goal into the cage on a 10-yard shot out front in the 81st minute.

With the loss, LIU Post fell to 6-7 overall and 3-4 in conference action. The teams played through two scoreless halves before forcing an extra frame. The Golden Rams out shot the Pioneers, 22-15, and held a 21-7 advantage in penalty corners, including a 16-1 margin in the second half.

Pioneers’ sophomore goalkeeper Becca May made a season-high15 saves in goal for LIU Post. On the other hand, West Chester University’s goalkeeper Kristin Arnold stopped nine shots to preserve the shutout win.

In another home contest on Thursday, October 11, Pioneers’ junior forward Carlee Dragon scored a career-high five goals to lead eighth-ranked LIU Post past Mercy College in a 5-0 victory. Dragon scored her first goal in the ninth minute when she fired in a shot from up top on a corner pass from senior midfielder Ashley Oracewski. She added her second and third goals in the 20thand 34thminute of the first half.

The teams played without scoring a goal through the first 20 minutes of the second half until Dragon scored on a 10-yard shot out front in the 66thminute. She tallied her final goal with48 seconds left in regulation when she shot a quick ball from the right post and into the top left corner. LIU Post out shot Mercy by an overwhelming margin, 33-2, and had a 16-3 advantage in penalty corners.

The Pioneers then hit the road on Saturday, October 13, to square off against Kutztown University. The Golden Bears carved out a competitive 1-0 win over Post in a PSAC East field hockey clash. With the loss, LIU Post slips to 7-8 overall and 3-5 in conference action.

The winning tally was scored in the 62nd minute by senior forward Emily Labowitz, who controlled a cross pass from senior midfielder Jenna Gregory, and shot the ball in from the front of the goal. LIU Post out shot the Golden Bears, 15-13, but was edged in penalty corners, 9-5. For the Pioneers, May made a game-highlight saves in goal.

LIU Post returns to action at home at 3 p.m. on Friday, October 19, against Bloomsburg University (12-4).