Box Score Box ScoreScranton, PA - Marywood University's record rose above .500 in both overall and conference play with a 2-1 victory over Neumann University Saturday in Colonial States Athletic Conference field hockey action. The Pacers scored twice in the first 17 minutes and kept away the Knights for the remainder to secure their first victory over Neumann since 2012.
Tori Jo Kakusian was a domineering presence both offensively and defensively with a goal and three defensive saves.
Leanne McManus added a goal to remain tied for the team lead with Kakusian with 11 scores.
Gabbie Bower and
Amelia Waibel each tabbed an assist.
Kakusian put the Pacers (6-5, 2-1 CSAC) ahead in the 12th minute off a penalty corner. Bower delivered a pass to the top of the box that was rifled into the right-side of the cage by Kakusian.
McManus scored on a breakaway goal that was kickstarted by a forward pass by
Amelia Waibel. Waibel's upfield feed took a Pacer bounce off a defender's stick, giving McManus nothing but synthetic turf and ground-up rubber tires ahead of her and the keeper. McManus put one past the Knights' stopper to extend the lead to two and put her six shy of the 100 Point Club.
Neumann (6-5, 1-3 CSAC) came out of the break swinging, and its defense held Marywood to without a shot for the first 20 minutes. Jessica Harrell scored on a pass from outside the box via Colleen Hoy in the 44th minute. Just 48 seconds later, Kakusian stopped an Alexa McIntyre shot off a penalty corner. Neumann's press emboldened; however,
Nicole Merrill thwarted two within the next minute.
Kakusian made two more defensive saves in the second period. She made a head-first dive across the goal line to keep away another McIntyre shot in the 61st. Four minutes later, she redirected a third McIntyre shot that found Merrill's leg pads and were destined to the back of the cage.
Neumann's Becky Guinto did her best Kakusian impersonation when she made a defensive save on a Marywood penalty corner chance in the 67th.
Merrill made four saves for the win. Becca Wallace stopped seven shots for the Knights.
Both teams equaled with 14 shots. Marywood held on to an 8-6 advantage in penalty corners.
The Pacers host Alvernia University Thursday at 4:00 pm.
