Sparkill, N.Y. - Fourth quarter goals by Nicola Van Vuuren and Madelief Heijmans flipped the scoreboard in favor of the St. Thomas Aquinas College Field Hockey team, as the maroon and gold slipped past Franklin Pierce University, 3-2, on Saturday afternoon at Spartan Field.
STAC moves to 2-10 overall and 1-6 with the victory, while FPU slips 1-11 and 1-6.
Prior to the contest, the Spartans honored their graduating senior class; Hailey Galison, Katelyn Cerrato, Aaliyah James, Kendra Evans, Nicola Van Vuuren, Olivia Calcaterra, Madelyn Verstraten and Madeline Schaefer with on-field ceremonies, which included the athletes' families, friends, teammates, coaches and college administrators.
Once the pregame festivities concluded STAC got down to business, as Madelief Heijmans tallied a pair of goals, while Nicola Van Vuuren added a goal and an assist of her own. In the cage, Madeline Schaefer (W, 2-5) stopped two of four shots faced to earn her second win of the year.
Meanwhile, Franklin Pierce received scoring Caity Hazley and Cecelia Keller, while Zoe Noorlag (L, 1-6) made 8 stops on 11 shots in a losing effort.
How it Happened
- Off of a penalty corner insert to Nicola Van Vuuren, a pass was sent to a wide open Madelief Heijmans who then fired a shot past Zoe Noorlag inside of the left post to put STAC up 1-0.
- Another penalty corner, this one by Franklin Pierce, found the stick of Lily Zavras for a shot on net that was tipped past Madeline Schaefer by teammate Caity Hazley to knot the game up at 1-1.
- An early fourth quarter offensive rush by the Ravens had Rebecca Phillips fire a shot on goal that was poked home by Cecelia Keller to put the visitors up 2-1.
- Moments later, a penalty corner insert by Hailey Galison found the twig of Nicola Van Vuuren for a blast, beating Zoe Noorlag to tie the match again at 2-2.
- The Spartans game-winning tally came off a turnover by the Franklin Pierce, as Madelief Heijmans pressured a Ravens defender and picked her pocket. Heijmans then went one-on-one with Zoe Noorlag, deking her, before sending a backhand shot under the sprawled netminder and to the back of the cage to give the maroon and gold the 3-2 lead.
Inside the Box Score
- STAC outshot Franklin Pierce 18-7 (11-5 on goal) for the afternoon.
- Madelief Heijmans registered a match-high six shots, with five reaching the cage.
- Heijmans' two-goal afternoon, now gives her sole possession of the team lead in goals with seven.
- The Spartans earned 11 penalty corners to the Ravens six in the match.
Up Next
STAC is on the road for its next two matches, first visiting Southern Connecticut State University on Tuesday, October 15. The Spartans and Owls will tangle in NE10 action inside of Jess Dow Field in New Haven, Connecticut at 4:00 p.m.