Field Hockey Takes Down Hood, 5-3, Thanks to Meghan Garvey's Hat Trick

(box score)

Sophomore Meghan Garvey (Avondale, PA) scored three goals to help Widener net a season-best five tallies en route to a 5-3 victory over Hood in Commonwealth conference action on Saturday in Frederick, MD.

Widener (5-12, 1-6 CC) took an early lead and never backed off as it outshot Hood, 24-6, and led in penalty corners, 15-7.

Garvey netted the first goal of the game only three minutes into the first half. A long pass down the field from the Widener defense found senior Devon Biglin (Ocean City, NJ) and Garvey on a 2-1 advantage in the Blazers' zone. Biglin received the ball and crossed it to Garvey who placed the ball in the left corner to give the Pride the early lead.

Hood forward Madeline Birmingham scored in the 20th minute to even the game, but Widener regained the lead three minutes later with yet another goal by Garvey. The ball was hit into the Hood box where junior Mackenzie Lindquist (Ocean City, NJ) stole the ball away from a defender and found Garvey cutting to the net on the left side. Garvey would poke the ball in for her team-leading ninth goal of the season.

The Pride increased their lead in the 30th minute when another breakaway allowed senior Samantha Balonis (Northumberland, PA) to net her sixth goal of the year. Garvey carried the ball down the field and found Balonis on her left. Balonis smacked the ball to the center of the goal to take a two-score lead for the Pride.

Hood's Emily Richardson scored seconds before halftime off a penalty corner to narrow Widener's lead heading into the second half.

Only 35 seconds into the second half, freshman Maddie Price (Jarrettsville, MD) scored her second goal of the year. Price carried the ball down the field and beat opposing goalie Ying Van schalk on the right side for the unassisted goal.

A minute later Widener took the three-goal lead when Garvey recorded her first career hat trick. She becomes the 19th player in school history to score at least three goals, moves into sixth place in school history with 24 career goals and is tied for seventh with 54 career points.

Emily Richardson scored another goal for the Blazers in the 42nd minute on a penalty stroke, but the Pride's defense held together in the end and the squad walked away with the victory.

Widener is back in action Tuesday at Alvernia to finish the 2013 season, starting at 4:00 pm.

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