PSU field hockey routes Thomas college

The PSU Field Hockey team powered past Thomas College on Sunday, September 20 by a score of 5-1 to get back into the win column in Waterville, Maine in a non-conference game.

With the victory, PSU recovered after its only loss of the season thus far and pushed its record to 5-1 overall on the season, remaining at 1-1 in the Little East Conference. Thomas College meanwhile had its losing streak extended to four games as they fell to 1-4 overall on the season.

PSU senior Sarah Smith led the way for PSU as she scored a game high three goals on the afternoon which gives her four goals on the season. Smith's fellow senior's Morgan Lemmon and Sammi Romano each added a goal for PSU, as they look to win their second in a row against New England College this coming week. Thomas got their only goal of the game from junior Ali Kriegel which narrowed PSU's lead to 3-1, though Thomas would get no closer. PSU sophomore goalie stopped two of the three goals she faced while Thomas' junior goaltender Megan Denby gave up five goals on eleven shots.

For PSU, it was their third game in five days as their head coach Bonnie Lord, attributes their victory to the hard work they have put in during practice, "I was very proud of how we prepared for the game. It was our third game in five days and the ladies were pretty tired. We had played a tough Lasell team on Wednesday and a hard first-loss to UMD on Friday," said Lord, "We have been conditioning every day and Coach McKenney had them physically prepared for the 3 games."

This is the first time PSU has started 5-1 since the '04 season and Coach Lord believes her team will remain "level-headed", "We play one game at a time and see each game as the most important one of the season. We have "won ugly" a couple of timesthis season and we haven't hit our stride quite yet. So, we are all awareand understand that we are a work in progress," said Lord, "No team wants to peak too soon as it is a long season. They are a very focused group and our captains,along with the other seniors are keeping their fingers on the pulse of this team."

PSU will look to extend its winning streak to two games as they return home to play games against New England College on Wednesday, September 23 and Western Connecticut on Saturday, September 26. Thomas College will look to get back on track against the University of Maine Farmington on Tuesday, September 22 and then again at home on Saturday, September 26 against Simmons College.