Defending NorPac champions University of California sneaked past
the Saint Louis University field hockey team by a score of 2-0 last
Sunday.
Though the Billikens struggled for production offensively,
goalkeeper Julie Moeckel sustained the defense by allowing only two
first-half scores against a high-powered Bears squad, which now
boast a record of 8-1.
The game, played in Springfield, Mo., saw no scoring until
Valentina Godfrid of Cal knocked one in off a penalty corner shot
in the 12th minute.
For Godfrid, the sophomore forward out of Argentina, it marked
her seventh goal of the season for the Bears in what proved to be
the game winner.
Cal’s second score, again, come off of a penalty corner in the
27th minute. This time, it was midfielder Chilly Banuelos netting
the goal for the Bears. For Cal, goalkeeper Kelly Knapp recorded
the shutout. It marked her third of the season and helped Cal
retain their spot at top of the NorPac division with a current
ranking of 15th nationally.
Highlighting the Bills performance was Moeckel with four saves,
along with senior Ellen Rapp, who collected two shots.
In spite of the loss, senior Rapp saw a good deal of positives
in the match.
“We definitely came out in the first half a lot stronger,” said
Rapp of her team’s improvements. “We were really intense and pushed
the ball around better than we had in past games.”
SLU now sits at a 1-2 mark on the season.
Just a week earlier Rapp was named the NorPac offensive player
of the week. The award came after her performances in the Bills’
first two contests. Against Southwest Missouri State Rapp was the
SLU offense, scoring two goals on two shots and helping SLU to a
2-1 overtime win.
Against Saint Joseph’s the following weekend, she broke a
second-half tie by netting her third goal of the season, giving the
Bills a brief 2-1 lead.
The Hawks, however, fought back for the eventual 3-2
victory.
Modesty flavored Rapp’s comments regarding her award; but as she
said–it proves a step in the right direction for Billiken field
hockey.
“It’s great to win an award; but I wouldn’t have gotten it if my
teammates hadn’t played as hard as me,” said Rapp. “It’s also great
because a SLU player has never gotten it [the NorPac award] before.
It gives confidence and lets other teams know SLU is an improving
program.”
For the past two seasons, Rapp has been the top shot taker for
the Bills, with 50 last year.
With five shots at this point in the season, she is converting
at a much higher rate.
Already, she has matched her career high of goals scored with
three, putting her lifetime mark at nine.
The Bills hope to see other offensive production this season
from senior Marissa Lynn, who has three assists thus far, and
junior Kelly Hellenga, who along with Rapp are the lone Billiken
goal scorers.
Up next for the Bills is a Saturday night match-up against
University of Miami (Ohio) at the Anheuser-Busch Center at 7:30
p.m., the first night game in SLU’s history.
The Red Hawks were 3-1 victors over SLU in their previous
meeting last season. They come to St. Louis with a 3-3 record after
blanking Appalachian State by a 3-0 score.
“We’re excited to match up against Miami…our team has a lot of
fire to win another game,” said Rapp. “We just need to keep playing
with intensity and a desire to come out fast.”
This holding true, when facing the Bills, it will be more and
more difficult for teams just to sneak by
