Pleasantville, N.Y. — Adelphi University's field hockey team defeated Pace University by a final score of 2-1 on Wednesday afternoon, as Kelly Johnson's clutch fourth-quarter strike secured the win.
The opening frame saw the Panthers dominate the penalty corner battle, totaling four to Pace's one. Following their third penalty corner of the game — inserted by Jena Geels — Johnson controlled the send-in and delivered a pass from outside the circle, threading it past the defense and goalkeeper. Geels, positioned perfectly in front of the net, tapped it in for her first collegiate goal. That tally would stand as the only score for either team through the first half.
In the second quarter, the Brown and Gold came out firing, taking 11 shots — nine of which were on goal. The Setters' goalkeeper was up to the task, turning away attempts from Katie Dettore, Lana Mignon De Wet, Jody Van Aardt, Caroline Beakes, and Isabella Zullo to keep the Panthers off the board. On the defensive end, Adelphi weathered a late surge from Pace, who earned five penalty corners in the final five minutes of the half. Allison Gregory, the Panthers' starting goalkeeper, preserved the lead with a key save on the Setters' lone shot on goal during that stretch, completing a first-half shutout.
Just two minutes into the second half, the Setters broke through, ending the shutout with a goal past a diving Gregory to even the score at 1-1. Both defenses tightened up following the equalizer. De Wet, Beakes, and Alexis Huntington each had quality looks to retake the lead, but the Pace goalkeeper stood strong.
Early in the fourth quarter — just two minutes in — the Panthers reclaimed the lead thanks to a long-range backhand strike from Johnson, giving her a goal and an assist on the day. Following the senior's highlight-reel moment, the Panthers' defense locked in, holding Pace scoreless over the final 13 minutes to secure the team's second straight victory and improve to 2-0 in conference play.
Head coach Jess Mulhern and the Panthers return to action on Saturday, Sept. 27, when they visit Southern New Hampshire University. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.
