Junior Alex Esterling (Wilmington, Del. / Delaware Military) found the back of the cage twice to lead the Mansfield University field hockey team (3-2 overall) to a 5-0 victory over Mercyhurst University (1-5 overall) in non-conference action on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 21 at Karl Van Norman Field.
Esterling didn't wait long to put the Mounties on the scoreboard as she scored her first goal of the contest in the third minute, before connecting on her team-leading sixth goal of the season just two minutes later off an assist from sophomore Lauren Grello (Norristown, Pa. / Landsale Catholic) to give the Mounties an early 2-0 lead.
Mansfield went cold in the second quarter, but a penalty stroke goal by junior Saramae Radel (Selinsgrove, Pa. / Selinsgrove) 11 minutes into the third quarter extended the Mounties advantage to 3-0.
Sophomore Kenedy Stroup (Millerstown, Pa. / Greenwood) had a hand in the next two scores to help the Mounties put the game out of reach. Stroup netted her fifth goal of the season with less than two minutes to go in the third off a helper by junior Kalin Duke (Stroudsburg, Pa. / Stroudsburg), before notching an assist of her own to open the fourth quarter when she teamed up with senior Olivia Wagner (New Cumberland, Pa. / Cedar Cliff).
The Mountaineer offense was relentless, firing off a game-high 32 shots, including 25 on goal, while winning the corner battle, 12-7. Kayla Desormeau made a game-high 19 saves in goal for the Lakers.
All eight of Esterling's shots came on goal to lead the MU offensive attack. Stroup finished with six shots on goal, while Radel added three.
Sophomore August Lewis (Felton, Del. / Lake Forest) made three saves in net for the Mounties, earning her third win of the season on her second shutout.
The Mounties hit the road this weekend for a pair of non-conference contests in Missouri as they take on Marywood University on Saturday, Sept. 24 at noon and Lindenwood University at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
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