Dialog reporter
HOCKESSIN – Madelyn Jablonski scored twice, while Caroline Steele had a goal and two assists to lead Ursuline to a 4-0 victory over St. Elizabeth in Catholic Conference field hockey Thursday afternoon at Hockessin Montessori School. For the Raiders, it was the seventh game in a row on the road; one of those was a neutral-site matchup with Padua last month at the Turf Bowl.
Ursuline was in control from the outset, but midway through the first half it was still scoreless. That changed with 13:47 to go, when Ursuline played a penalty corner to Steele, who found Jablonski open near the top of the circle to the right of St. Elizabeth keeper Jill Aranilla. Jablonski’s shot went through traffic and into the cage for the 1-0 lead.
Aranilla made 12 saves on the day, perhaps none better than one on an end-to-end rush by the Raiders’ Katie Hosey. Shortly thereafter, the Vikings had their best chance as, on a penalty corner, Alanna Speaks took a pass from Ashley Kleinhomer and sent a shot toward the cage, but Ursuline keeper Kate Casey kicked the attempt out of harm’s way.
The Raiders stretched the lead by two in a two-minute stretch early in the second half. Steele earned the first one, taking a pass from Nina Budischak and sending into the side of the cage. Jablonski’s second was assisted by Hosey, who left the game four minutes later after turning an ankle. The senior-heavy Raiders saw a bit of the future on the final goal, as Steele’s shot was tipped by sophomore Theodora Elliman high over the goalkeeper with 15:47 to go.
Ursuline finished with 16 shots to the Vikings’ three, and the Raiders had 13 penalty corners, while their opponent had four. Nine of the Raiders’ penalty corners came in the second half.
Ursuline has quietly put together a 6-2-1 record this season while playing just one home game. The Raiders finish the regular season by playing their final six matches at Serviam Field, beginning Saturday at 11:30 a.m. vs. Newark Charter. The Vikings (2-7) have little time to reflect on this match, as they are right back in action Friday at 3:45 p.m. against St. Mark’s at Hockessin Montessori School.
