Field Hockey Battles, but Falls to No. 6 Converse Sunday Afternoon

HARTSVILLE, S.C. - Coker University field hockey battled, but fell to No. 6 Converse Sunday afternoon (Oct. 23) by a score of 4-2. 

The Cobras would strike first about halfway through the first quarter, when Kelly Naude took advantage of a Converse miscue and poked a ball through a crowd into the back of the cage to get the Cobras on the board. Coker would then take the lead to the second quarter. Converse responded with two goals in the second quarter to take a 2-1 lead to the half, before adding another goal in the third to go ahead 3-1. The Cobras would get back within one with two minutes to play in the third when Payton Baronella-O'Toole fired a rocket to the top left corner off a penalty corner opportunity to get Coker back within 3-2 headed to the fourth. Converse would add a goal in the fourth to bring the contest to its final score. 

Baronella-O'Toole registered three of Coker's four shots in the contest, with the other one coming off the stick of Naude. Kiarra Rivera and Amba Brown each recorded two defensive saves in the game, while Baronella-O'Toole also had one. Emma Reininga and Mar Hondeman split time between the pipes, each making five saves in 30 minutes of play. 

The Cobras return to action on Tuesday (Oct. 25) at Wingate in South Atlantic Conference action. The game is set for a 7:00 p.m. start from Wingate, N.C., with video and live stats available at www.cokercobras.com. 

McDonald's Player of the Game - Payton Baronella-O'Toole