ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE FIELD HOCKEY
Saturday, October 13, 2001

Etown Improves Playoff Chances with 2-0 Win over Susquehanna

ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. --- The Blue Jays gave their playoff hopes a shot in the arm Saturday with a 2-0 home win over Susquehanna. Susquehanna entered the game in third place in the Commonwealth Conference, while the Blue Jays held a tenuous grasp on fourth place. The top four teams in the conference qualify for the playoffs Oct. 23 and 27. In a must-win situation Saturday, Elizabethtown improved to 8-7 overall and 3-3 in the conference, while the Crusaders dropped to 8-6 overall and 4-2 in the conference.

Mindy Nace (Thompsontown, PA/East Juniata) scored Elizabethtown's first goal unassisted with 1:29 left in the first half. Brandy Espenshade (Grantville, PA/Lower Dauphin) scored the second goal with 27:17 remaining in the second stanza.

The Blue Jays dominated the offensive side of the game, outshooting the Crusaders 17-3. Etown also had nine penalty corners against five for Susquehanna.

Elizabethtown keeper Kate VanValkenburgh (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) made one save for the shutout, the 22nd whitewash of her career. This ties her for fourth place on the list of the program's all-time shutout leaders with 22.

The Blue Jays will return to action on the road Tuesday, October 16 against Moravian for the final conference game of the season. Game time is 4:30 p.m.

At Elizabethtown, Pa.
Elizabethtown 2, Susquehanna 0
Susquehanna (8-6, 4-2)   0 0 — 0
Elizabethtown (8-7, 3-3) 1 1 — 2

First Period Scoring:
EC—Mindy Nace, 1:29

Second Period Scoring:
EC—Brandy Espenshade, 27:17

Shots: SU 3, EC 17. Corners: SU 7, EC 9. Goalie Saves: Kylie Cook (SU) 9, Kate VanValkenburgh (EC) 1.