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LHU women’s soccer gets offense going in 3-1 win over Shippensburg

PHIL MAPSTONE/FOR THE EXPRESS LHU’s Ella Jones steals a ball on Tuesday against Shippensburg. Lock Haven won the game 3-1.

Lock Haven University women’s soccer coach Kathy Brown knew her players had the ability to score based on what she saw from them in practice.

Tuesday at the Stern Athletic Complex, the Lady Eagles proved the coach to be right on as for the first time since September 30, as they posted a 3-1 victory over Shippensburg.

“We have players who can score goals and they are young. You saw that with both Hayleigh (Swam) and Marah (Foltz),” said Brown, of her freshmen. “Despite being very young, they are very capable of getting the job done. What they need is the consistency where they can do that all the time and that is going to take some growth and development. I see it in practice and I know that it is there. I think we’ll see that development come in years to come and I am excited about that.”

After battling each other to a 0-0 stalemate in the first half, The Haven set the tone for the remainder of the game six minutes into the period.

Marah Foltz got the scoring started for LHU when she took a pass from Gabby Kishbaugh and chipped the ball over the Red Raider keeper in the upper corner to give Haven a 1-0 lead.

Not to sit on the 1-0 lead, the Lady Eagles scored again seven minutes later when Hayleigh Swam collected a loose ball and buried it behind the Ship goalie for a 2-0 LHU lead.

Facing the two-goal deficit, Ship didn’t pack things up and head to the bus as in the 71st minute, Ashley Weaver belted a shot from the top of the box that found its way into the goal to cut the LHU lead to 2-1.

“When that happened it was that Ship realized by losing this game it could hurt hem moving on to the conference tournament,” said Brown. “When they pushed the ball into our defensive zone it was some of the frustration from them, knowing they had to make something happen. They were kicking long balls and we struggled when they did that. Once they scored, I think we picked it up because we knew we couldn’t let them score again.”

However, not to let things slip away from them, the Lady Eagles tallied an insurance goal in the 78th minute when Sarah Bonelli crossed a pass to Kishbaugh, and Kishbaugh knocked the ball past the Ship goalie to set the final at 3-1 in favor of Haven.

Following the game, Brown was quick to admit that the third goal made her breathe a little easier going down the stretch.

“Absolutely,” Brown said with a smile on her face. “I loved it when we got that third goal and I think the biggest thing for me is that since I have a big roster of girls that are fantastic girls who work very hard, it gave some of the other girls a chance to get in the game. You don’t always see them get a chance to play so for me, if we can get some of those girls into the game who deserve to play, it is a good feeling. If I could, I would play all of them all the time because they are good kids, but you know you just can’t do that all the time.”

So what was the biggest factor in the Lady Eagles scoring three goals?

“The biggest thing was their movement off the ball,” said Brown. “When we had the ball we had runners everywhere, running forward and laying balls off. When that happens, it creates options. We have been talking about it all year and today they finally put it together.”

LHU will wrap up its 2016 season Saturday when the Lady Eagles welcome the Lady Vulcans of California (PA) to Hubert Jack Stadium for Senior Day. First touch for the season-ender is set for 5 p.m.

Ship    0    1    —    1

LHU    0    3    —    3

LHU — Marah Foltz assisted by Gabby Kishbaugh. 50:36

LHU — Hayleigh Swam unassisted. 57:58

Ship — Ashley Weaver unassisted. 70:01

LHU — Kishbaugh assisted by Sarah Bonelli. 77:39.

Total Shots: Ship 5, LHU 8. Shots on Goal: Ship 2, LHU 5.

Corner Kicks: Ship 4, LHU 0. Offsides: Ship 0, LHU 1.

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