For The Dialog
NEWARK – After knocking six-time defending champion Cape Henlopen out of the DIAA field hockey tournament on Saturday, fourth-seeded Tower Hill entered its semifinal against top-seeded Padua at the University of Delaware’s Rullo Stadium on Nov. 15 on a high. The Hillers picked up where they left off, scoring four times in the second half to knock off the Pandas, 4-0.
Tower Hill blitzed Padua goalie Hailey Power early with seven shots on goal, but Power turned away all of them. She had five spectacular saves in the first, but Padua’s defense stabilized, and the teams entered intermission scoreless.
The Hillers’ offense has been high-powered all season, and it seemed like a matter of time before they got one past Power, who had allowed just two goals all season. Tower Hill kept the pressure on and finally got a goal as Louise Conaty tried to center a pass to Natalie Hobbs. The ball deflected off a defender, however, and into the net for the 1-0 lead with 21:18 to go.
Tower kept the foot on the gas, and Power turned away two more quality chances. But Isabelle Pilson found the cage to give the Hillers a 2-0 lead with 16:04 left.
Power dazzled the crowd with a stick save on Hobbs following a Tower Hill penalty corner, but Hobbs scored at the 11:12 mark to make it 3-0.
The Pandas’ goalie continued to shine, making three more spectacular saves in a 10-second span before Laura Taschner got one past her for the final tally.
Tower Hill finished with 20 shots on goal, while Padua could manage three. The Pandas finished a fine season at 17-1, while the Hillers improved to 17-1 and will face Delmar in the championship game Friday night at Rullo Stadium.
