Senior Day shutout
Field hockey team blanks Appalachian State, 12-0, in record Senior Day rout
The Lady Flames field hockey team set seven new program records on Senior Day in their 12-0 shutout against Appalachian State to improve to 12-6 on the season.
Push — Senior Ashlee Krulock moves upfield against a Mountianeer defender. Photo credit: Leah Seavers
The squad of 10 seniors who were celebrated before the Nov. 7 game propelled the Lady Flames to victory in their final regular season game. Eight of Liberty’s 10 seniors recorded at least one point while setting a new program record for most goals scored in a contest.
Forward Hannah Doherty, midfielder Erin Dombach and forward Ashlee Krulock each set new individual career highs. Doherty had a break out game scoring four goals, totaling 10 points, setting a new program record for most points in a single contest. Dombach and Krulock became the program’s all-time leaders in games played with 84 career games.
Senior goalkeeper Mallory Cuccio held down the fort in the goal to earn the win. Sophomore goalkeeper Monica Hernick also saw a significant amount of playing time in goal during the second half, saving three shots.
The Lady Flames dictated the pace of the game early on as senior forward Sarah Gipe collected a pass from senior forward Natalie Barr on the right side of the circle for a quick shot across net to take the 1-0 lead in the eighth minute. Just one minute later, Krulock received a pass from Doherty to score her 12th goal of the season as the ball ricocheted off the goalie’s stick to find the back of the net.
Doherty notched her first goal of the game in the 14th minute on an unassisted shot that bounced off the far post, landing right in front of Doherty, who quickly shot to find the back of the net. The senior midfielder’s second goal was scored on an open net as she maneuvered the ball around the Mountaineers goalkeeper, who slid out of goal. Doherty wound up and cranked a shot on the open net, bringing the score to 4-0.
The Flames finished the half by netting three additional goals, extending their lead over the Mountaineers 7-0. Gipe, Krulock and freshman forward Pippa Best each scored a goal.
Liberty came out in the second half with no intentions of slowing down, continuing to play its style of hockey by controlling the ball in the midfield and taking full advantage of every opportunity on offense.
For a second time that afternoon, Krulock found Doherty who ripped a shot on goal, collecting her first career hat trick. In the next offensive play, Krulock set up Doherty once again for her fourth goal as the midfielder redirected the ball across the net, increasing the lead 9-0.
Shortly after, senior forwards Erin Bartley and Morgan Mummau scored back-to-back goals, each achieving their first career goals. Bartley collected the ball closely inside the circle for a hard shot, tipping off the goalie and into the back of the net. Mummau’s goal was scored after receiving a pass from fellow senior forward Hannah Goldsborough.
Krulock scored the final goal of the contest, collecting a hat trick of her own after being set up by Doherty, recording her 10th point of the game. Liberty finalized its 12-0 shutout against the Mountaineers as Krulock’s 14th goal of the season crossed into the back of the net.
Overall, Liberty boasted a new program record for shots in a single contest, outshooting Appalachian State 44-3.
“I thought today’s game was great, it was really nice to end in a strong way,” Doherty said. “All of the seniors were really excited about the win.”
The seniors displayed their talents and showed up ready to play in Saturday’s monstrous victory over Appalachian State.
“You couldn’t have written a better Senior Day,” Head Coach Jodi Murphy said. “I am so proud and pleased of our 10 seniors. Every single one of them made their hard work over the last four years very tangible in today’s game.”
Liberty hoped the 12-0 shutout against the Mountaineers would boost their ranking enough to qualify for the 2015 NCAA Field Hockey Tournament, but according to the RPI rankings and the tournament field, Liberty was the first team out of the field.
The Lady Flames finished the season with a 12-6 record and a No. 12 ranking in the last released NFHCA Coaches poll.
Britton is a sports reporter.