Sparkill, N.Y. - Jasmijn Van Drunen tallied two goals, as the St. Thomas Aquinas College Field Hockey team continued its NE10 playoff push with a 2-1 victory over Franklin Pierce University on Monday afternoon at Spartan Field.

STAC improves to 10-7 overall and 8-4 in the conference, while FPU drops to 4-13 and 3-9.

How it Happened

• The Spartans and Ravens played a scoreless first quarter, with both teams posting two shots apiece through 15 minutes of action.
• St. Thomas Aquinas opened the scoring a 1:37 into the second stanza, as off of a restart on a turnover by the Ravens, Hailey Galison sent a pass through the air to teammate Brittany Lionarons. Lionarons then sent a through ball up the middle of the field to Jasmijn Van Drunen, who fired a shot past a diving Addy Araneo to the back of the cage to make it 1-0.
• Franklin Pierce tied things up at 1-1 a little over two minutes later, when a failed clearing attempt by the Spartan defense found the stick of Rebecca Phillips. Phillips would make her way around several defenders and send a shot on net, hitting the left post and beating Jessie Hohenstein.
• The teams would remain deadlocked at one goal apiece through 30 minutes, with the Spartans and Ravens each registering five shots and the visitors holding a slim 4-3 advantage in penalty corners.
• Following the halftime break, St. Thomas Aquinas turned up its offensive pressure, tallying 12 shots, while holding Franklin Pierce to no attempts during the second half.
• Jasmijn Van Drunen would once again find her name on the scoresheet, scoring her second goal on the afternoon just 1:43 into the final quarter. On a restart, following a foul, Nicola Van Vuuren sent a pass to Van Drunen, who fired a backhand laser past Addy Araneo to break the tie and give the Spartans a 2-1 advantage.
• Once the hosts in maroon and gold regained the lead, the game plan immediately turned to a tight defensive posture, which smothered any possible chance of a Ravens rally. FPU earned two penalty corners in the fourth quarter, but the opportunities presented no danger, allowing STAC to run out the clock and take the key conference triumph.

STAC Highlights and Game Notes

• Jasmijn Van Drunen's two-goal afternoon now gives her eight on the season.
• Jessie Hohenstein (W, 9-5) made two stops on three shots to earn the victory.
• St. Thomas Aquinas outshot Franklin Pierce 17-5, while the Spartans earned a 7-6 advantage in Penalty Corners.
• STAC's 17 total shots in the contest came from Van Drunen (6), Adriana Alfisi (3), Sam Van Der Valk (3), Nicola Van Vuuren (2), Floortje Beune (1), Sofia Corominas Cuen (1) and Olivia Cerbo (1).

Up Next

STAC closes its 2022 regular season schedule, facing off with Assumption University on Friday, November 11 (2:30 p.m.) at Spartan Field.