Cedar Crest College Athletics

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The Cedar Crest College field hockey team rolled past Eastern Mennonite University in a 6-0 victory on Friday afternoon in its home opener at the FalconPlex.

The Falcons built a 2-0 lead in the first quarter, moving in front at 8:26 on a goal by first-year Ava Hendricks (Bloomsburg, Pa./Bloomsburg Area) before senior Courtney Gibbons (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) added a goal at 10:23. Cedar Crest also generated two penalty corners and four additional shot attempts in the stanza, while senior Shelby Heater (Lehighton, Pa./Lehighton Area) did not face a recorded shot in goal.

The Falcons played a scoreless second quarter, leaving the Cedar Crest ahead 2-0 at halftime. The home team generated their recorded chances on Gibbons' penalty corners at 19:32 and 21:34, with senior Sydney Jeker (Sciota, Pa./Pleasant Valley) taking three shots — two wide and one blocked.

Cedar Crest's first goal of the third quarter came at 35:01 to make it 3-0 on the second goal of the game by Hendricks. The Falcons kept generating chances with five penalty corners in the frame, then scored again at 42:35 as first-year Carli Apgar (Easton, Pa./Wilson Area) found the back of the cage, with the goal assisted by senior Carly Piciullo (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial) to carry a 4-0 lead into the fourth quarter.

Cedar Crest added two fourth-quarter goals, with Jeker scoring off Gibbons' helper at 48:14 before the Falcons struck again at 54:18 on a marker by Apgar for a 6-0 lead. The Falcons kept the pressure on with five additional shots and a late penalty corner, while the Royals' lone recorded shot of the quarter was blocked. The 6-0 score held through the final whistle.

Jeker scored once and finished with six shots for Cedar Crest. Gibbons recorded a goal and an assist. Piciullo added an assist and took one shot. Hendricks and Apgar finished with two goals apiece. Heater played all 60 minutes in goal and posted a shutout.

Joni Wiederman () and Aarin McIntosh () recorded one shot each for Eastern Mennonite

Cedar Crest (1-1 overall) stays home to host Elmira College on Saturday, September 12 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Mennonite (0-1 overall) has a quick turnaround as they play at Lancaster Bible College on Saturday, September 5 at 11:00 a.m.