INDIANA, Pa. - Extending their conference win streak to three games, the No. 9 Mansfield Mountaineer field hockey team (10-5, 4-2 PSAC) made the long trip to IUP (5-8, 3-4 PSAC) for their Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) contest on Wednesday afternoon, with the Mounties grabbing the 2-1 victory under the lights.

Based on the conference's outcome after today's contests, the Mansfield field hockey team currently holds the third best conference record heading into the final three games.

Mansfield had the early control in their road contest, earning the first two penalty corners of the night and the first shot on goal by Melanie Esh with no luck to flip the scoreboard.

IUP matched the penalty corner and shot on goal total, mustering up two and a shot on goal in just 19 seconds apart before the end of the first quarter.

After some back-and-forth battling, the Mountaineers took the lead, catching a rebound for the first goal into the cage from the junior Ella Du Plessis with an assist from Leah Toskey for Mansfield to take the 1-0 edge five minutes into the second quarter.

The Mountaineers kept the pace for the rest of the half, posting three more penalty corners and two shots, including a potential second goal chance by Ashtyn Price.

IUP rounded out the half with similar numbers to the Mounties, as both teams had three shots on goal and Mansfield had the 5-4 advantage in penalty corners before the halftime whistle.

The Crimson Hawks came out with the momentum, grabbing two early penalty corners and four shots, including a shot that went in the cage, but a whistle stopped play right before as the Mountaineers still led 1-0.

Katie Marchiani attempted the first shot of the second half off two penalty corners, but the third corner gave Du Plessis the pace around the circle and slapped the second goal of the night for the Mounties to hold the 2-0 edge, with Sophia Vadnais earning the assist.

IUP did not accept the deficit, using a minute of action to earn three penalty corners with one forcing a scramble that led to the ball rolling into the cage for the Crimson Hawks to cut into the lead, but Mansfield held the 2-1 advantage heading into the final quarter.

11 penalty corners and nine shots occurred in the third quarter with the host controlling momentum for a comeback, holding the 7-4 and 7-2 edge throughout the quarter.

Mansfield looked to ease into the final quarter, controlling the start with two penalty corners and a shot on goal from Kenedy Stroup, looking for the insurance goal. 

Eight minutes of fouls and substitutions surpassed until the Crimson Hawks landed a penalty corner, sending two shots with four minutes to go, but August Lewis kept the lead in their grasp.

A final surge saw IUP pull their goalkeeper with a penalty corner chance, but the Mountaineers held strong and pulled out the 2-1 victory.

UP NEXT:  
Mansfield head to No. 6 West Chester for their final road contest of the season on Saturday, October 26. This nationally ranked conference clash is set to start at 6 p.m.