Sparkill, N.Y. - Third quarter goals by Lauren Cooper and Nicola Van Vuuren powered the St. Thomas Aquinas College Women's Field Hockey to a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Saint Michael's College on Sunday morning at Spartan Field in Sparkill.
Prior to the contest, the Spartans honored its graduating senior class; Lauren Cooper and Jessie Hohenstein with on-field ceremonies, which included the athletes' families, teammates, coaches and college administrators.
How it Happened
Saint Michael's would use the emotion of the Spartans Senior Day pregame festivities to their advantage in the early going, scoring the match's first goal in just the fourth minute of action. Jenna Puleo would corral a penalty corner pass from teammate Erickson Richard, make her way around two STAC defenders and fire a shot on net, which would be tipped past goalie Jessie Hohenstein by Richard to make it 1-0 for the Purple Knights.
The Spartans would get the better of the offensive chances during the rest of the quarter, outshooting Saint Michael's 6-3 in the frame, but neither side could muster another goal and the visitors would continue to hold a one-goal advantage through the first 15 minutes.
Second quarter action saw St. Thomas Aquinas continue to turn up the pressure and hold the Purple Knights in their own end of the field for most of the stanza, with the Spartans recording a 6-2 shots advantage. However, no scoring would take place and Saint Michael's would maintain their 1-0 lead, as the teams retreated to their respective benches for halftime.
After the break, STAC would come out with tremendous energy and a renewed sense of urgency to get themselves back into the contest. Lauren Cooper would lead the charge for the Spartans, as she would score the Spartans first goal in the 37th minute. Off of a penalty corner, a scramble for possession would ensue with Olivia Cerbo coming up with the ball and making a pass through several Saint Michael's defenders to Cooper who would fire it past keeper Riley O'Connor to tie the game.
Just four minutes later, St. Thomas Aquinas would take the lead as Arielle Rodriguez would lift a pass into the shooting circle to Nicola Van Vuuren, who would fire a shot around O'Connor to make it 2-1.
The Purple Knights were unable to match the Spartans intensity through the final 19 minutes of action, as the hosts would maintain their offensive pressure in the hopes of scoring an insurance goal. Though STAC did not tally a third goal, they were also able to fend off a couple of late chances by Saint Michael's and run out the clock to pick up its second consecutive victory.
Inside the Box Score
- The Spartans have scored 12 goals through six games in the month of October.
- Lauren Cooper now has a team-leading five goals on the season.
- St. Thomas Aquinas outshot Saint Michael's 23 to 7 on the afternoon.
- Nicola Van Vuuren's goal was her fourth of 2021 and second game-winning tally.
- Jessie Hohenstein (W, 5-8) stopped three of four shots faced in the match.
Up Next
STAC (5-8, 4-5 NE10) continues its three-game Spartan Field homestand, facing off with Adelphi University on Wednesday, October 20. The NE10 match is scheduled to get underway at 3pm.