SU Headed Into Title Weekend With Confidence

The No. 3 Salisbury University field hockey team is headed back to the Final Four, looking to bring back the programs first title since 2009. The Sea Gulls will now fly north to Geneva, NY for a showdown with 3rd ranked Tufts.

It’s been a special season for the Sea Gulls as they have blended in a talented group of underclassmen with a senior class determined to end their careers with the games ultimate team prize. SU heads into championship weekend with the confidence that comes with a 18-1 record. In 2015 the Sea Gulls had one of the top defenses in the nation, but struggled to put the ball away on the offensive end. This season the Sea Gulls have used a balanced attack from veteran players like Annah Brittingham, Abbey Shobe and Hannah Miller to help raise their goal per game average from 3.39 to 4.47, the 2nd best in the country. The Sea Gulls feature a roster that now has 5 players with over 20 points, including 3 of which have over 30. The jump has been aided by the production of freshman Arielle Johnston who has been a forced in the middle of the field finishing with a team freshman best 9 points. On to of that, sophomore Kristen Yingling has enjoyed a break out season, finishing with a career high 20 points.

While the offense has seen a big turnaround, the defense has remained rock solid. The Sea Gulls are averaging giving up just .55 goals a contest, which also ranks as the 2nd best in the country. The defense is anchored by junior Tressie Windsor who has posted 12 shutouts in goal.

The Sea Gulls though will have their hands full this weekend, starting with 3rd ranked Tufts. The Jumbos have lost just 2 games this year and feature the 3rd best defense in the nation. If SU can earn a win on Saturday to play for the title on Sunday, they will either face the top team in the country in Messiah, or will face a two loss Babson team.

The road only gets more difficult from here though