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Riley paces Saints field hockey in 5-2 victory over Mustangs

Posted 9/15/11

St. Lawrence University senior Emily Riley scored the game-winning goal and assisted on three others, leading the Saints field hockey team to a 5-2 victory over Morrisville State in her team's 2011 …

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Riley paces Saints field hockey in 5-2 victory over Mustangs

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St. Lawrence University senior Emily Riley scored the game-winning goal and assisted on three others, leading the Saints field hockey team to a 5-2 victory over Morrisville State in her team's 2011 home opener in Canton, NY.

The Saints improved to 3-1 after scoring four unanswered goals, while the Mustangs fall to 0-3.

"Morrisville State did a nice job of capitalizing on their chances early in the game, but I was pleased with the way we responded," said St. Lawrence head coach, whose team was in a 2-1 hole at one point. "Emily did an excellent job controlling the ball in the midfield and creating scoring chances for herself and others."

Senior Taylor Vogt opened the scoring for the Saints at Hall-Leet Stadium with her first goal of the season only 4:15 into the contest. The Rochester, NY native scored on Mustang goalie Laura Blumenfeld off of a rebound try in front, with an assist going to Riley on the tally.

Morrisville State would answer with consecutive goals less than 9:00 minutes apart to take a 2-1 lead midway through the first half. Rebecca Meyer pounced on a rebound in front of St. Lawrence goalie Nicole Matos to tie the game at 1-1 at 11:13, while Paige Jerrett gave the visitors the lead at 20:11. Sarah Angerer sent a crisp centering pass to Jerrett cutting through the circle, and a one-timer slipped past Matos for a 2-1 cushion.

St. Lawrence would rebound in style, though, scoring three goals to end the first half and take a 4-2 lead into intermission. Junior Courtney Cartier would tie the game at 2-2 a mere 23 seconds after Morrisville State took the lead, while Riley's fourth goal of the season put the home team on top for good. The Saratoga Springs, NY native took the ball into the circle and blitzed a high shot past Blumenfeld into the cage for a 3-2 lead at 28:35.

Junior Ashley Ferenczy would cap the first half scoring, taking a pass from Riley in the middle of the circle and beating the goalie for her third goal of the year at 29:24.

St. Lawrence continued to pour on the offensive chances in the second half thanks to excellent play in the midfield. Rookie Ali Ferenczy and sophomore Kate Higgins did a solid job of keeping the ball in the Mustangs' end of the field, as did defenders Emma Berry and Julia Croyle.

Senior Erika Swits would put the game away with the final goal at 65:47. Riley got the play started again, as she dribbled the ball into the circle on a 4-on-1 try against a Morrisville defender. Riley slipped a pass to her left to Swits, who scored on Blumenfeld for her second goal of the year en route to the 5-2 victory.

St. Lawrence finished with a 26-13 advantage in shots, and held an impressive 15-5 mark on penalty corners thanks to an 11-1 showing in the second half.

Matos earned the win with five saves including a dazzling split stop in the first half, while Blumenfeld suffered the loss despite making 11 stops for Morrisville State.

St. Lawrence will look to extend its two-game win streak this weekend when the team heads to Geneva, NY to take on Lebanon Valley and Manhattanville at the 2011 William Smith Tournament. The Saints will square off with Lebanon Valley at 4:00pm on Saturday, September 17.