CHESTER, Pa. - Widener Field Hockey won a pivotal MAC Commonwealth game, knocking off Neumann by a final score of 2-1 at Edith R. Dixon Field.
With the win, Widener improves their record to 7-8 (4-3 MAC), while also clinching a spot in the MAC Commonwealth playoffs for the first time since 2023. The Pride currently sit in a tie for the fourth seed with Alvernia in the MAC Commonwealth standings.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Widener took 14 shots to Neumann's five. Seven Pride shots found the net while Neumann put three on goal.
- Karly Bervinchak scored her team-leading 10th goal of the year and assisted Brie Mallozzi's sixth goal of the season.
- Emma Korenthal made one save and earned her seventh win of the year in net for the Pride.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Widener wasted little time getting on the board in the first period, as Bervinchak weaved through multiple defenders with the ball before rocketing a shot past the Neumann goaltender, giving the Pride a 1-0 lead just six and a half minutes into the contest. Neither team would score in the remainder of the period and Widener would take it's 1-0 lead into the second frame.
- Widener scored just before halftime, Bervinchak setting up Mallozzi on a pass to the top of the circle before Mallozzi slapped the ball into the back of the net and doubling the Widener lead going into the break.
- After neither team scored in the third period, Neumann built some momentum. Widener's Addie Troy made a fantastic defensive save on a ball destined for the net with seven minutes to go in the contest, preserving the shutout. A little over four minutes later, Neumann would score on a penalty stroke to cut the Pride lead to one. The Knights pressed forward, looking for the equalizer during the final three minutes of play as the Widener defense held strong and were able to run the last bit of clock out, preserving the 2-1 result.
UP NEXT
Widener will travel to take on Alvernia on Halloween in a game with massive seeding implications. The winner will claim the No. 4 seed in the MAC Commonwealth playoffs and host the 4/5 game. The game is slated to start at 4 p.m.
