Coker Field Hockey Hands Queens First Conference Loss with 4-3 Victory

HARTSVILLE, S.C. - The Coker College field hockey team stunned the visiting Queens University Royals by grinding out a 4-3 victory Wednesday (Oct. 17) evening in South Atlantic Conference Carolinas action. The Royals headed into today's game with a perfect 5-0 record in conference play until the Cobras handed them their lone conference loss of the season. Meanwhile, the Cobras collected their second conference victory with the inspiring victory tonight.

"Our girls put together 70 minutes of great field hockey," said Coker Head Field Hockey Coach Kat Heterbring. "Queens gave us a really good fight, but I thought we stayed composed and got it done. Our girls trusted each other and worked as a unit for this victory."

The Royals flexed their muscles early in the contest, scoring in the first minute and a half for the early advantage. Coker quickly overcame the early obstacle by tallying three consecutive goals for a 3-1 lead with six minutes remaining in the first half. Amelia Gajewski scored twice during the run, while Kelly Mason recorded one score. With three minutes remaining in the first half, Queens cut into their deficit with a goal in the 33rd minute, giving Coker a 3-2 lead at the end of the first half.

The second half of action was much different than the first, as both squads picked up the intensity and played solid defensively. Queens was controlling possession for much of the second half and started to create scoring chances. Just when it seemed the Royals had stolen the momentum of the game, the Navy and Gold received a clutch goal from Mason in the 50th minute to pull out to a 4-2 advantage. Alyssa Baronella-O'Toole earned the assist with a well-placed pass to Mason.  

Once again, the Royals willed themselves back into the game with a score in the 54th minute, making the game a one goal contest. With 15 minutes left to play, the Cobras locked down defensively and showed their toughness down the stretch to secure the upset victory. As time expired in the game, Queens earned a penalty corner for one final shot to tie the contest up. However, the Cobras denied the Royals to secure the 4-3 victory.

"We told our defense not to do anything fancy towards the end of the game and to keep things simple," explained Heterbring. "They did exactly that and pulled off a great victory for our program."

Offensively, Coker received an excellent game from Mason who recorded two goals and one assist off of three shots. Gajewski made her mark throughout the game with two goals, while Alyssa Baronella-O'Toole added two assists to her stat line. In between the pipes, Kelsey Gibbons gathered three saves and made timely saves down the stretch for the victory.

The Cobras will be back in action on Sunday (Oct. 21) when they travel to Newberry to take on the Wolves in a South Atlantic Conference Carolinas matchup. Game time is set for 2 PM.

McDonald's Player of the Game - Kelly Mason