Frostburg State University Athletics

MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – The Frostburg State Field Hockey team picked up their first PSAC win of the year with a strong 4-1 performance against Millersville on the road Friday afternoon.
 
After the sides exchanged possession for the first five minutes, the Marauders looked to get on the board first, getting into the circle on a pair of occasions but putting two shots wide of the post. Four minutes later, the Bobcats won possession high up the field, where sophomore Brooke Saul put a ball to the top of the arc that was misplayed by an MU defender, falling to freshman Izzy Gibbons who ripped a shot past keeper Katherine Hanlon for a 1-0 lead. Looking for a quick response, Millersville went on the attack from the restart, where freshman Jenna Yazzetti made a kick save in goal before clearing the ball out of the circle. With just under four minutes to play in the period, Yazzetti just about stood on her head to keep out back-to-back efforts, while on a follow-up third shot, an illegal denial by a Frostburg defender resulted in a penalty stroke, which Megan Alvarez put home to even things at 1-1.
 
The Marauders looked to continue their momentum into the second quarter, as four minutes in they earned a penalty corner, from which Yazzetti made two straight saves with her legs to keep things tied. Over the next six minutes, FSU's defense was able to hold MU's offense at bay, fending off a pair of corners without allowing a shot. With just under five minutes left to play in the half, senior Mikyla Rineer gained possession of the ball in her own half and went on a 35-yard run before playing a ball into the circle that freshman Zoey Gibbons was somehow able to get her stick on and flick a shot past Hanlon to regain a 2-1 advantage. Rineer then had a chance of her own to score after making another long run but Hanlon was able to kick it away. Before the half ended, the Marauders put another shot wide while Frostburg's defense blocked a last-second effort to keep the lead.
 
FSU had no let-up in the third period, as Millersville had to play a ball deep in their own half, which sophomore Caroline Earnshaw intercepted and played into the path of classmate Ava Shorkey, who made a defender miss in the arc and fired home for a 3-1 score. MU tried to find a way back into the game but the Bobcat defense was equally up to the task, limiting the hosts to just one shot in the remainder of the frame, a deflected effort that was easily swept away by Yazzetti. As the quarter wound down, FSU earned a pair of corners, where on the second one, senior Morgan Sparks played to the top of the circle for classmate Bri Macchia, as she fired the ball in and found the stick of junior Rachel Young to tip into the back of the net for a 4-1 lead.
 
Needing a miraculous fourth quarter, the Marauders earned a pair of early corners, from which Sparks made a goal-line save followed by Yazzetti making another stop in the first three minutes. Soon after, more Millersville pressure brought another pair of penalties, with Yazzetti standing tall on two occasions while also kicking away a third. Finally able to break away on a counterattack, Izzy Gibbons powered a shot looking for a fifth, however Hanlon was able to react quickly enough for the stop. Each side managed just one penalty corner without a shot the rest of the way, giving FSU the 4-1 victory.
 
MU held a 17-7 advantage in shots with 12 on target to FSU's six, with Yazzetti making 11 saves in goal.
 
With the win, Frostburg improves to 6-6 on the year, while Millersville drops to 3-9. FSU will next return home to face Slippery Rock on Wednesday, October 21 at 2 p.m. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.