Field Hockey: Pioneers Duel Barons Under the Lights
On Thursday night, the field hockey team hosted Manheim Central in a crucial Section 2 matchup. Both the Barons and the Pioneers were looking to keep their foothold in the title race. The Pioneers won the last meeting between these teams 4-0.
The Pioneers struck first. A shot from Tori Heiserman thundered against the frame of the goal, rebounding right onto the stick of Marissa Rice and into the net. After tumultuous pressure, Kiley Hoser finally equalized the score shortly before the halftime whistle.
With 2 minutes left in the 3rd quarter, the Barons were awarded a penalty shot, which was saved by a diving Brooke Zuber. Shortly into the 4th quarter, Ally Raub tapped in a goal from close range off a beautiful pass from Heiserman. Not to be outdone, the Barons quickly leveled the score at 2 with a Ella Brubaker shot. Maggie Swarr had a great chance to score what would be the game-winner with 9 minutes remaining, but her shot bounced off the left frame. The game was destined for overtime.
The Pioneers were on the back foot throughout the entirety of the overtime period. Brooke Zuber continued to do her thing, with the defense helping her out mightly. With 6 and half minutes left in the period, Kylie Krosen scored the game-winner for her second goal of the game. The Barons won by a score of 3-2.
Following the game, Pioneer coach Katrina Swarr had high praise for both sides. "This is probably one of the best evenly matched games we played this season. They had really fast forwards, we have really fast forwards. They have a good defensive unit, we have a really good defensive unit. They have a good goalie, we have a really good goalie, so evenly matched, there's nothing you can really do the ball just bounced the wrong way at the end".
By Logan Moyer, LS News Editor-in-Chief
Photos by Cameron Reynolds, LS News Photographer