Highlanders Bow to #1 Bloomsburg in Opener
(Houghton, N.Y.)—The Houghton College field hockey team lost to
Bloomsburg University—ranked #1 in the nation by the National
Field Hockey Coaches Association—in the season opener for both
teams, 6-0, Friday afternoon at the Alumni Athletic Complex.
Bloomsburg scored three in each half against the
Highlanders. Senior All-American Jamie Vanartsdalen had two
goals and so did junior Erin Hench. Samantha Kropa, another
senior All-American, and Amanda Rily, a freshman, had the other
two tallies for the Huskies.
“Even though it was a loss, it was a good loss for us,”
said Rachael Allison, head coach for the Highlanders.
“Bloomsburg is an awesome team and our girls really hung in
there. I’m proud of them.”
Bloomsburg has won five of the last six NCAA, Division II
national championships, including the last two. They returned
five All-American players from last year’s championship team.
The Huskies outshot the Highlanders 28-4, with a 22-3
lead in shots on goal. Bloomsburg also had a large advantage in
penalty corners, 20-2.
Ashley Farr was credited with 16 saves in goal for the
Highlanders. Caitlin Koczynski needed just three to earn the
shutout for Bloomsburg.
Houghton, now 0-1, faces another stiff test Saturday,
facing SUNY Cortland—ranked #8 in the NCAA Division III—at home
at 1 pm
