(Posted October 2, 2004)

Juniata 1, Lebanon Valley 0 (Penalty Strokes)

Annville, Pa. ? Sophomore Sierra Dickman (Foxcroft School/Marshall, Va.) netted the winning penalty stroke to lead No. 12 Juniata College over No. 16 Lebanon Valley 5-1 in penalty strokes Saturday afternoon in Annville. The penalty stroke win gave Juniata a 1-0 triumph and improved the Eagles to 7-1 overall and 3-1 in conference play this season. Lebanon Valley had a five-match winning streak snapped with the loss and fall to 8-4 overall and 2-1 in the conference.

The teams needed two sets of penalty strokes to decide the winner after a 0-0 score after regulation and a pair of sudden-death overtime periods. It marked the second time this season that Juniata has earned a victory in the second round of penalty strokes. Dickman also knocked home the deciding stroke in Juniata?s 2-1 win over Muhlenberg earlier this season.

Both teams played outstanding defense in the match, though both team?s also had several scoring opportunities. Juniata out-shot the home team 3-1 in the first period, then saw the pressure increase in the second stanza with Lebanon Valley firing eight shots to Juniata?s six. Melonie Sappe? (Dallas/Shavertown) stood tall in goal making five saves in regulation and then another five in overtime to send the match to penalty strokes.

Flying Dutchmen keeper Katie Pawlewicz was nearly as strong, stopping seven shots through regulation and overtime.

The home team nearly punched through in the first overtime during a stretch when the team earned five consecutive penalty corners. But Sappe? made a pair of saves during the sequence to keep the match scoreless.

In the first round of strokes, both teams converted two with Elise Zimmerman (Cumberland Valley/Boiling Springs) and Billie Rickenbaugh (East Juniata/McAlisterville) converting for Juniata.

Those same two players scored again in the second round, but Dickman added a third tally and Sappe? stopped the final two strokes to secure the victory.

Juniata has now won three-straight matches over Lebanon Valley dating back to last season. The Eagles topped the Flying Dutchmen during the regular season in 2003, marking Juniata?s first victory against the team in the program?s history. They then defeated them a second time in the Commonwealth Conference semifinals.

Juniata will return to action on Wednesday as the Eagles host conference opponent Elizabethtown.

###

Our readers respond...

Be the first to provide a response.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.