ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. -- There were two shades of Grace for the Elizabethtown College field hockey team in Saturday's 3-2 come-from-behind victory over McDaniel at Wolf Field.
Grace Hussey scored twice in the fourth quarter, including the game-winning goal and
Grace Hardy had a goal and both assists on Hussey's tallies as Etown turned a 2-1 deficit into the 3-2 win.
Angelina Giglio-Tos made one save in the win.
Midway through the first quarter, Hardy stuck home a loose ball in the circle to give Elizabethtown (2-2) a 1-0 lead. Giglio-Tos made a save at the other end minutes later to keep it 1-0. It didn't last much longer after that, though, as McDaniel (2-2) pulled even on Amy Richenderfer's goal. Emma Legacy sent the ball across the front of the goal and Richenderfer was there at the back post to slam it home.
Chloe Smith was needed for a few heads up plays on defensive corners. Multiple times, Smith kept the ball out of the cage after Tenley Pelot would lob it on target from the top of the circle off Richenderfer's inserts. Legacy pounced on a loose ball off a corner play and gave the visitors the lead 1:32 into the second quarter. They would lead 2-1 at the half.
The Blue Jays picked up the offensive pressure in the second half, however it didn't turn into scoring chances. They were able to keep McDaniel on their heels with four third-quarter corners.
Hussey had a chance denied by Mikayla Smith a few minutes into the fourth quarter, but it wouldn't be the last time the junior would be eyeing up the goal. With the Green Terror down a player, Etown took advantage. Hardy dribbled the ball out wide right and lifted a ball into the circle. Hussey ran onto it in the middle of the circle and sent a backhanded effort past Smith and into the cage to tie the game at 2-2 with under 10 minutes to go.
Smith had to come up big for McDaniel shortly thereafter as
Sydney Aguilar got in, but Smith was able to stop Aguilar with a sliding save.
The Grace-to-Grace connection worked a second time in the fourth, this time with just 1:56 remaining in the game. Hardy's deflection went right to Hussey at the left post, and she was able to beat the defenders nearby to push the ball into the cage once again for her second of the game and third of the season to put Elizabethtown in front, 3-2.
The defense held up for the last 1:56, not allowing a shot or a corner to McDaniel and saw the clock out to even their record after a pair of losses.
The field hockey team plays at Haverford on Wednesday, September 15, at 5 p.m.
