ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Senior forward
Ava Mikulski recorded her first career multi-goal performance, leading the 13th-ranked Ursinus field hockey team to a 3-0 road victory over Muhlenberg College on Wednesday evening at Scotty Wood Stadium.
With the victory, Ursinus improves to 12-4 overall and 6-3 in Centennial Conference play. The Mules fall to 6-11 overall and 3-6 in conference action. Junior
Katie Studzinski also scored for the Bears, while senior
Kirsten Johnson added an assist.
The Bears jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the second minute when Mikulski scored her first goal of the game and fifth of the season. On the play, Johnson intercepted a pass inside the circle, created space between two defenders and tipped a pass across the crease, where Mikulski was waiting to tap it in. The Bears recorded two more shots by senior
Marie Brainard over the remainder of the period and took a 1-0 lead into the second quarter.
Ursinus continued to pressure the Muhlenberg defense, recording five shots off three penalty corners in the first five minutes of the second quarter, but the lead remained at one. Junior
Ava Wood and sophomore
Kylie Moore added shots for the Bears over the remainder of the first half, and Ursinus entered halftime with a 1-0 lead.
After a pair of Ursinus corners were turned away to open the second half, Muhlenberg generated their first two chances, but first-year goalkeeper
Elise Martin denied both attempts to keep the Bears ahead by one. In the 34th minute, the Bears broke through when Mikulski scored her second goal of the game to extend their lead to two. On a penalty corner, Moore's initial shot was saved, but the loose ball found Mikulski, who converted to give Ursinus a 2-0 lead entering the final period.
Muhlenberg recorded three consecutive shots to open the final period, but a save by Martin and two blocked shots by the Bears' defense kept Ursinus ahead by two. The Bears maintained possession throughout the remainder of the quarter, leading to a goal by Studzinski in the 59th minute that sealed the 3-0 victory. Studzinski scored off a penalty corner, corralling a loose ball inside the circle and sending a bouncing shot through the Mules' defense for her second goal of the season.
The Bears held a commanding 27-6 advantage in shots, a 16-3 lead in shots on goal and a 15-1 edge in penalty corners. Martin earned the victory in goal, recording three saves and her fourth shutout of the season. Muhlenberg goalkeeper Brenna Fitzpatrick took the loss despite making 13 saves.
The Bears return to action Saturday, hosting McDaniel College at noon for Senior Day.
