F. Hockey coasts back to all-even

The field hockey team has hit .500. After a successful weekend, which saw wins over Lock Haven (3-2) and Bucknell (2-0), Penn may have turned a corner.

"We came up to do what we said we wanted to do and we did it," head coach Val Cloud said. "Could we have played better? Of course, but we played well enough to win."

Their first victory of the weekend came on Friday night at Lock Haven against the three-time Northeast Conference champions, who entered the game with an 8-4 record.

"Their conference is probably the weakest one in the country," Cloud said. "I was not really worried."

The Red and Blue's senior midfielder Nicole Black scored two goals, and sophomore midfielder Kelsey Tahan netted the other off a corner.

"Lock Haven is a very aggressive, hard-hitting kind of team, which is unlike any teams we play," Cloud said. "They have found success with that."

The Lady Eagles put pressure on Penn early with senior forward Sam Stoyer scoring the first goal five minutes into the game. The Quakers bounced back, scoring three goals, the last seven minutes before the half.

The Penn defense had a busy time, especially junior goaltender Alanna Butera, who held off the Eagles' 15 shots throughout the game.

The Quakers "are just getting better by playing better individual defense and team defense," Cloud said. "All of those things add up, giving up less shots and less goals."

Next was Bucknell (6-4), whom the Quakers last met in 1999 and defeated 4-1.

"I don't think Bucknell is different than the teams we have played," Cloud said. "They are a good team but we are a better team. We play fairly similar."

The Red and Blue started off strong, outshooting the Bison in the first half 7-2. Senior forward Andrea Rockey and senior Melissa Black netted goals for the Quakers. The defense held on to secure Butera's second shutout of the season.

Bucknell was supposed to have a strong offensive attack, but despite two penalty corners, they could not put the ball in the net against the Red and Blue.

"I think we are just going to keep going forward," Cloud said. "We have some tough games coming up so we will prepare for those."

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