(Posted October 30, 2004)

Houghton 2, Juniata 1

Huntingdon, Pa. ? The Juniata College field hockey team was unable to earn its 15th victory of the season on senior day as the Eagles dropped a 2-1 decision to Houghton on senior day in Huntingdon Saturday afternoon. Juniata closes the regular season with a record of 14-3, while Houghton improved to 11-4 with the win.

On a sloppy wet field, the Eagles took an early lead. Leslie Stern (Red Lion/Felton) knocked home her first goal of the season just eight minutes into the contest to give Juniata a 1-0 lead. The goal was assisted by Elise Zimmerman (Cumberland Valley/Boiling Springs) who has recorded 15 points in Juniata?s last six matches.

The Eagles continued to control the run of play throughout the remainder of the contest, but the field conditions bogged down both offenses. Juniata would pile up seven shots in the first half, and then another three in the second period, but forced Houghton keeper Laura Kline to make just one save. Melonie Sappe? (Dallas/Shavertown) had three saves in goal for Juniata as she tried to help preserve the lead.

Houghton finally broke through with less than four minutes remaining in regulation. Kelly Mazzeo beat Sappe? to knot the match at one.

The teams would play one scoreless overtime period in which Juniata managed five shots to none for Houghton. Then in the second overtime session after Juniata had fired off two shots, Elizabeth Mueller ended the contest with a goal at the 84:10 mark of the match.

The loss leaves Juniata one victory short of tying the program record for wins in a season, which the Eagles established last year. The three regular-season losses are the fewest the team has had since the 1991 team finished the regular season 8-2-1.

Juniata will continue its season on Wednesday when the Eagles host Lebanon Valley for in a Commonwealth Conference Tournament semifinal. Juniata defeated the Flying Dutchmen 2-1 in a semifinal last season in Annville.

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Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.