Field hockey knocks off 14th-ranked Ursinus

Photo by Josiah Garber

Senior Kristin Moyer (6) keeps the ball from pursuing Ursinus players as senior Jennie Hunter (12) follows in support.

EMU field hockey beat 14th-ranked Ursinus Saturday and local rival Bridgewater Wednesday, pulling themselves to 16th place nationwide.

Ursinus came to Harrisonburg on Saturday with one purpose, to avenge last year’s overtime loss to EMU. They failed.

Coming out of halftime, after Amanda Young had scored Ursinus lone goal of the game, the Lady Royals made it clear that they weren’t going down without a fight. Seven minutes into the second half, sophomore Jonalyn Denlinger sent a ball past Ursinus’ goal keeper to register EMU’s first goal of the game. However, in response to Denlinger’s goal, Ursinus began an attack against the Royals’ defense.

Goalkeeper Emily Chamelin made contributed six saves to the EMU effort and the defense added two, to shut down the UC offense. Senior All-American, Kristin Moyer, with an assist from Denlinger, added her 12th goal of the season to ensure a Royals victory that bumped them up from a national rank of 20th, to their current standing at 16th place in the NCAA Division III. The two to one loss dropped Ursinus from the 14th spot down to 17th.

The huge home win on Saturday, which brought the Royals’ record to a perfect five and zero, was preceded by Friday’s seven to zero win over Randolph Macon Women’s College and followed by a three-nothing win over Bridgewater Wednesday.

Many attribute EMU’s success this season to the outstanding offense of Kristin Moyer and Jonalyn Denlinger; and they’d be right, somewhat. The team’s play is also complemented by junior Molly Harrington, who has made five goals already this season, matching her total last year. Lisa Ehst, junior midfield, has offered three assists and two goals to the Royals’ wins.

The team’s underclassmen starters are freshman midfield Kristie Souder; Stephanie Derstine, sophmore forward; and the strong defense of Beth Peachey, Ashley Byler, sophomores, Kimberly Longacre, a freshman, and sophomore goalkeeper Emily Chamelin.

The team is nationally ranked in defensive scoring, allowing only 0.80 goals per game. The Lady Royals’s offensive is fifth in Div. III, with their scoring average at 5.2 goals per game. Sweet Briar’s Molly Everngam, is tied with Moyer with 12 goals and two assists. EMU’s Denlinger leads the division with six assists. The team has a home game on Saturday at 1 p.m. against Franklin and Marshall, and play ODAC rival Lynchburg, who was ranked first in the league during the preseason, on Wednesday Sept. 24 in an away game. The team is facing a tough schedule as their season gets into full swing, but have a strong core with which to fight.