Pacers' Upset Bid of Undefeated Scranton Comes Undone in Second Half
Meredith Yozwiak led the Marywood defense with a first-half defensive save

Pacers' Upset Bid of Undefeated Scranton Comes Undone in Second Half

Field Hockey - 9/29/2015 10:20:00 PM

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Scranton, PA – Marywood University's bid to upset undefeated University of Scranton fell short in the second half in a 3-1 loss in non-conference field hockey action at Pacers Field. The Pacers (4-4) stood tied with the Royals (9-0) through 45 minutes before Lara Haab added a pair of second-half goals.

Playing in a steady downpour that slowed the dangerous Royals offense, the two teams played scoreless for over 29 minutes until the Royals' Meghan Kearney came away with her first goal of the season on a scrum in front of the net.

Less than two minutes later, Marywood sophomore defender Tori Jo Kakusian tied the game at one apiece. Senior Gabbie Bower delivered a penalty corner to Kakusian at the top of the key. Kakusian clobbered a shot that ricocheted off a defender's stick and sailed over everyone's head into the top right corner of the cage. Kakusian's goal at the 31:32 mark was her seventh of the year, and Bower added her team-best fifth assist.

The Marywood defense was outstanding at frustrating the Royals' offense inside their attacking circles. Despite getting 17 penalty corners and 23 shots, only 11 shots were on goal. Kakusian added two defensive saves to her total, and Meredith Yozwiak prevented a goal from going inside the weak post for her first career defensive save.

The Pacers' solid performance overshadowed a nine-goal loss to the Royals last season.

Haab tallied the gamewinner when Alyssa Whitman steered it to the right side away from the goalkeeper to give Haab an open shot at the 45:21 mark. Fifteen minutes later, Haab lifted a short shot over the keeper for an insurance goal.

Scranton outshot the Pacers 23-5 and had a 17-3 advantage in penalty corners. Nicole Merrill made five saves. Christina Black stopped two shots – a stop on a Julie Kowalski attempt and a brilliant kick save on a hard-hit Kakusian shot.

Marywood tangos with rival Cabrini College Saturday morning at 11:00 am at Pacers Field 
 
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