Dialog reporter
WILMINGTON – A year ago, Paige McKune was playing field hockey for Middletown. On Sept. 21, when the Cavaliers visited Serviam Field to meet Ursuline, McKune scored what proved to be the winning goal – for the Raiders, who held on for a 3-2 win in an entertaining matinee.
McKune, a junior, put Ursuline ahead, 3-1, when she pounced on a ball at the goal line behind Middletown goalie Lauren Berry with 13:52 remaining in the contest. The original shot had come from sophomore Jane Lyons, but it was deflected and stopped before it crossed the line.
Ursuline (2-0-1) had tightened up its defense in the second half after Middletown controlled the play for much of the first half, but after McKune’s tally, the Cavaliers again cranked up the pressure. It paid off with 7:15 to go, when Kaitlyn Mitchell drove and beat Raiders goalie Cleo Troy low and to the keeper’s right to make it 3-2.
The Cavaliers would have some opportunities to tie the game in the final minutes, but they were unsuccessful. Two of those came on penalty corners; both resulted in shots going wide, the second, with about 45 seconds on the clock, rolled just wide right.
When the game started, it was Ursuline that exerted control. The Raiders lined up for five penalty corners in a six-minute stretch, but nothing came of the first four. They capitalized on the fifth, however, when sophomore Jordan Kenney picked up a misplayed ball in the crease and jammed it home from four feet at the 18:44 mark.
Middletown, which has lost all four of its games by one goal, called a timeout with 11 minutes to go before halftime, and the Cavaliers came back and took control of the action. Senior Emily Saylor tied the game at a goal each with 4:27 on the clock.
Much of the second half was played in the middle of the field as both teams struggled to pick up quality offensive chances. Ursuline picked up the ball in transition at one point and managed a shot that was saved, but the Raiders picked up a penalty corner opportunity. Berry rejected several chances in close, but Ursuline was awarded a penalty stroke with 18:08 to go. Junior Theodora Elliman roofed the shot, putting the Raiders ahead for good at 2-1.
Ursuline outshot Middletown, 11-8, and had eight penalty corners to the Cavaliers’ four. The Raiders are back at Serviam Field on Thursday, playing Appoquinimink at 3:45 p.m. in a game postponed from Monday. The Cavaliers visit Delcastle at 4 p.m. Friday.
