Margiotta's Hat Trick Lifts Top-Seeded Field Hockey to NE-10 Final
Box Score
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (Nov. 8, 2013) - It only took sophomore forward Keliann Margiotta (Sewell, N.J.) just over 25 minutes into the Northeast-10 semifinal clash to record a hat trick, sending the No. 3 and top-seeded LIU Post field hockey team to a 5-0 rout of fourth-seeded Adelphi Friday in Brookville, N.Y. The Pioneers will host the NE-10 title game on Sunday at 1 p.m. against third-seeded Stonehill, which defeated Merrimack 3-2 in the other semifinal tilt.
Margiotta scored the first three goals for the Pioneers (19-0), with the first one coming in the 12th minute. The sophomore and junior forward Stephanie Ruhle (Wanaque, N.J.) went on a fast break down the field, and Margiotta worked a give-and-go to Ruhle, who found her for the score. Another fast break seven minutes later led to Margiotta's second score of the afternoon on an unassisted tally, as she went one-on-one with Adelphi's goalie, Kelly Serrao.
Shortly thereafter, graduate midfielder Dani Crouse (Westville, South Africa) sent a hard cross from the right of the circle to the waiting Margiotta at the right flank, who tipped it in for the 3-0 lead.
The score remained 3-0 for the final ten minutes of the first half. The Panthers managed just one shot attempt in the first to the Pioneers' eight.
The second half was once again all LIU Post. Just under eight-and-a-half minutes into the second half, freshman midfielder Lauren Adamusik (Clark, N.J.) secured the ball after a scramble in front of the net, and shot it into the back of the cage.
The nation's leading scorer, senior forward Carlee Dragon (Bridgewater, N.J.), tacked on an exclamation point in the 56th minute, as Margiotta found her off a penalty corner.
Freshman Meredith Stocklin (Mount Laurel, N.J.) got the win in goal for the Pioneers, logging 48 minutes and making one save. Fellow freshman Ericka Parks (Nesconset, N.Y.) relieved Stocklin for the final 22 minutes of play. For Adelphi, Serrao made five saves.
Overall, LIU Post held a 17-5 advantage in shots, and narrowly edged out Adelphi in penalty corners at an 11-9 clip.
The Pioneers will now host the NE-10 Championship final on Sunday (Nov. 10) at 1 p.m. against third-seeded Stonehill.