Lightning delay or not, the Royals wouldn’t be denied. The EMU Field Hockey team faced Cedar Crest at home this past Saturday. It was the Royals’ first home game of the season, as well as Interim Head Coach Justina Kishorn’s first home game as coach for the team.
Cedar Crest initially had the ball for a good bit of the first quarter, working it in their half of the field. However, when the Royals got a chance, they capitalized. The Royals got out quickly with the speed of Junior Morgan Leslie, who scored her first goal of the season in the ninth minute of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Royals would put themselves ahead by two after a goal from Sophia Armato. Cedar Crest would eventually score two goals in eight minutes of play to knot the score, and the game would be tied going into the half. During halftime, Senior Elizabeth Longacre said the team “talked at halftime about communicating on the field and winning back the rest of the game.” She discussed how in their previous games this year, they struggled starting as well in new quarters, so they focused on coming back out with momentum. She said that their focus coming into the second half was to play as, “composed as a team like we did for most of the first half.”
The Royals would do just that, scoring two goals in seven minutes. Morgan Leslie notched her second, and Senior Cassidy Armstrong scored as well. Longacre described the team as being, “resilient,” and they were just that, dominating the third quarter, and looking to do the same in the fourth. “During the game, we were showcasing our true talent. We showed ourselves and everyone else what we were capable of.” said First-year goalie Gracyn Aruda
However, right between quarters, lightning was heard, and the game had to be called off. There would be a 45 to 50 minute break in action before either team touched the field again. Senior Kate Landis would ice the game, scoring with seven minutes remaining. Cedar Crest would score one last goal, but the Royals hung on and rallied. Battling a Cedar Crest comeback, and a lightning delay, the team looked and played with confidence. Longacre believes that this win will give them the confidence to win more games down the road. She said, “we know now that we can beat strong teams if we work together as a team and execute the little things.”
First-year goalie Gracyn Arruda played a very strong game, recording a season high eight saves, playing a huge role in the Royals defensive effort. Kate Landis and Sophia Armato notched a goal and an assist, Morgan Leslie scored two goals, and Cassidy Armstrong notched one of her own. The Royals will look to pick up another win this Wednesday against Hood College at 4 p.m.
