Reading Nets Early Goal as Field Hockey Drops Season Finale to #7 Golden Rams

FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State field hockey team fell in their final game of the season 5-1 to No. 7 West Chester on Friday afternoon. 
  
FSU took possession to start the match and quickly went on the offensive with a shot from junior Paige Leitzel that went high. After fending off the initial attack, the Golden Rams flipped the field and junior Zoe Barnes came up with the first save of the game. FSU got the first penalty corner of the day halfway through the first, where after a shot from sophomore Emma Price was saved, senior Zoe Reading found the back of the net for the game's opening goal. The Golden Rams didn't take long to respond, scoring the equalizer two minutes later, with Jasmine Miller opening her account on the day. At the other end, Frostburg earned back-to-back corners, from which senior Ashlyn Cave and Leitzel both drew saves from Ryan Curley in goal. Miller then capitalized on a West Chester corner with two minutes to go in the period, receiving the insert from Ella Shockley and finding the back of the net for a 2-1 lead. 
 
The second quarter began with the Golden Rams controlling most of the possession, though they weren't able to get a shot away until midway through, when sophomore Ella Esham made her first save. Two minutes later, Miller completed her first half hat trick with another corner routine coming to her by way of Paige Wolfe for a 3-1 advantage. With five minutes left in the half, the Bobcats would have a good look at goal, as Leitzel drew a kick save on a shot towards the near post, while WCU ended the frame with a pair of shots that went wide. 
 
The Golden Rams started the third quarter with the ball, as Caitlynn Szarko took the ball immediately down the field and feeding across to Miller for her fourth within the first minute. West Chester kept the pressure up for five minutes, forcing Esham into a further three saves while sending another effort wide. Frostburg would break out nine minutes in, taking the ball the length of the field and giving freshman Layla Lagunas a chance at goal, while Curley thwarting her shot. With 2:41 left in the third, WCU was awarded a penalty stroke for a trip in the box, as Veerle Hersman would finish high left to make the game 5-1 in favor of the Golden Rams. 
 
FSU would earn a corner early in the final period, looking to get on the board once more, as senior Emilie Bonhivert had a look at the side of goal on the corner play but was unable to connect on the one timer. After seeing another shot go wide, Esham stood tall to prevent Miller getting her fifth of the day. Another corner for the Bobcats in the final five minutes saw Leitzel's shot blocked in front of goal, then a minute later senior Femke Hofkamp would take a shot from the top of the arc that was kicked away by Curley. WCU had the final two efforts of the contest, one being blocked and another off target to finish off the four-goal win. 

With the loss, Frostburg ends their season at 6-11, while West Chester improves to 12-6.