W&J powers way into E8 Championship with second half surge
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The Washington & Jefferson field hockey team defeated Hartwick, 4-0, in the Empire 8 semifinals on Friday night, Nov. 4.
With the win, the Presidents improve to 15-3 overall and earn their first trip to the E8 Championship game since 2011.
Kelly Knisel (Weatogue, Conn./Simsbury) scored just four minutes into the second half on an assist from
Rachel Buyan (Huntington Beach, Calif./Edison) to give the Presidents a 1-0 lead after both teams played a scoreless first half. In the 54th minute, Knisel struck again, this time off an assist from
Amanda Steffey (Irwin, Pa./Penn-Trafford), for her 12th goal of the season and her third multi-goal game of the season.
Just 75 seconds later,
Lauren Brown (Novi, Mich./Novi) extended the W&J lead to 3-0 with her first goal of the season coming off an assist from Buyan. Steffey rounded out the scoring in the game with her team-leading 13th goal of the season in the 61st minute with the assist coming from Knisel.
Karlie Baran (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Liberty) (15-3) got the win in net for the Presidents, needing to make three saves to record her eighth shutout of the season. Shannon Carter (12-4) took the loss in net for the Hawks, making three saves in 60:07 of action, while Jilian Sabatino played the rest of the game.
As a team, the Presidents held advantages in total shots, 12-4, and shots on goal, 7-3.
The Presidents will face St. John Fisher in the E8 Championship game on Saturday, Nov. 5, in Rochester, N.Y. at 4 p.m.