In four games in just two days, Marist held its own at the Bronco Invitational, finishing the weekend with a 3-1 record and improving to 8-3 overall on the season.
The weekend started as the Red Foxes took on the No. 17 team in the nation, the San Jose State Spartans, who showcased an impressive turnaround as their record jumped from 1-6 to 5-6 over the course of the weekend.
The Spartans took the lead early in the match, 5-3, with three goals from junior attacker Darcy Spark in the first period, and two more throughout the match.
The Red Foxes trailed throughout the second period but outscored the Spartans in the third, thanks to goals from junior attacker Kendall DeBeer and freshman Jolanta Szentpali.
The teams were tied up as they entered the last period and ultimately – the match. The two teams both sat at 12 as time expired, and the fifth period, overtime, began.
Back-to-back goals from sophomore driver Sarah Woren and sophomore two-meter (a position similar to a striker in soccer) Bridget Cranley moved the Spartans ahead in overtime.
But with five seconds left in the fifth period, DeBeer’s penalty shot brought Marist just one goal behind, and junior attacker/center Emily Scheerer’s sixth-period goal had the teams tied and forced them to go into a seventh period.
But with 10 seconds left in the three-minute frame, the Spartans secured their victory with another goal from Spark, winning 15-14.
Still, consistent saves from goaltender Ines Sanchez kept the Red Foxes in the game, as the senior ultimately saved 13 shots from the Spartans, compared to her opponents’ seven saves.
After a tough loss, Marist took on the California State University, Northridge Matadors, eager to get back in their groove.
The Red Foxes scored 10 goals in the first two periods against CSUN, with strong offense from key players DeBeer and senior utility Paige Naegle, who each scored three goals in the match.
Throughout the final two periods, the Matadors fought to meet Marist’s score but fell short as the Red Foxes took the win 16-11.
On Saturday, the Red Foxes started their second and final day of the invitational against the hosts of the tournament, the Santa Clara Broncos.
Marist took the lead quickly in the first period, 7-2, with strong offense and early goals from senior attack Lela McCarroll and junior utility Samantha Bentley.
Marist remained far ahead of Santa Clara by the end of the second period as well; between high-powered offense and Sanchez’s consistency in the net, the Red Foxes sat comfortably with an 11-4 advantage.
DeBeer and Broncos senior utility Megan Chambliss both led their teams with four goals, but the rest of the Broncos were no match for the Red Foxes, who took their second win, 18-10.
For the final match of the weekend, Marist faced the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens.
Yet again, the Red Foxes were led offensively by DeBeer’s powerful shots and were backed up by Sanchez’s stout play in net.
Marist held the lead throughout the entire match and outscored the Sagehens in each period, and shut them out in the final period with six goals to Pomona-Pitzer’s none.
After the invitational, the Red Foxes now sit at 8-3 as they prepare to take on Iona University and Salem University on Saturday during their first home matches this season at the McCann Natatorium.
Edited by Ben Leeds
Photo by Marist Athletics
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