MANSFIELD, Pa. – Junior Alex Esterling (Wilmington, Del. / Delaware Military Institute) tied the single-game program record with four goals to lead the No. 9 Mansfield University field hockey team (6-5, 1-2 PSAC) to a 5-0 victory over Slippery Rock University (5-6, 0-3 PSAC) in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) action on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 12 at Karl Van Norman Field.
 
Esterling's four scores tied 2022 MU Alumni-Athletic Hall of Famer Taryn Schawillie '13 and Kristi Swartz '03 for the most in a game in program history.
 
Esterling has 11 goals on the season, moving her into a tie for the nation's lead.
 
After a scoreless 12 minutes to start the game, Esterling put the Mounties on the board with her first goal after she collected her own rebound and beat the keeper left.
 
The junior opened the second period with her second score when junior Hannah Meyer (Kitchener, Ontario / Forest Heights) sent a perfect pass into the box off a Mountie corner, extending the MU advantage to 2-0.
 
Sophomore Kelsey Robertson (Holland, N.Y. / Holland) connected with Esterling on a breakaway goal in the 16^th minute to extend the Mountaineer advantage to 3-0.
 
Esterling scored her final goal in the 36^th minute off a helper from junior Saramae Radel (Selinsgrove, Pa. / Selinsgrove).
 
Sophomore Eilie Holland (Marathon, N.Y. / Marathon Central) rounded out the Mountaineer scoring with her first goal of the season in the 46^th minute.
 
Esterling was electric from start to finish, firing off a game-high 12 shots, all coming on goal. All six of sophomore Kenedy Stroup's (Millerstown, Pa. / Greenwood) shots came on goal, as the Mountaineers won the battle, 31(26)-4(4), while leading 17-3 in corners.
 
Sophomore August Lewis (Felton, Del. / Lake Forest) picked up her sixth victory of the season in net, collecting three saves in her fifth shut out of the season.
 
For SRU, Grace Burker made an impressive game-high 19 stops in the losing effort. Three different Golden Rams recorded shots.
 
The Mounties host No. 2 Shippensburg University at noon on Saturday, Oct. 15 to kick off a triple header at Karl Van Norman Field. The contest will be a pink out in honor of breast cancer awareness.