November 2, 2011

Tigers Travel To Stanford For First NorPac Tournament Game Against Longwood

 

2011 NorPac Tournament Central

2011 NorPac Tournament Bracket

Stanford, Calif. – The Pacific Field Hockey team heads to the NorPac Championships Thursday afternoon at the Varsity Turf in Stanford, Calif. The Tigers will take on East Division foe Longwood at 4:00 pm on November 3.

This will mark the second matchup this season between the Tigers and Lancers. In their first contest Longwood edged Pacific in a 3-2 overtime battle that took place in Richmond, Va. on October 6.

In the first contest Pacific saw goals from sophomore Paige Counsman and senior captain Amanda Spellman. Spellman's goal came in the final minutes of regulation that pushed the game into overtime. The tying score was one of her team-leading four goals this season.

It will be important for the Tiger defense lead by Emily Trudeau's seven defensive saves to mark the Lancers' Stacey de Grandomme. Trudeau's seven defensive saves ranks fifth in the country to this point. de Grandomme has 12 goals and two assists in 2011, including a season-high three goals in the Lancers win against Pacific in the two teams earlier matchup.

The Tigers will also look to junior keeper Ashlee Schlesier to turn away the Lacer offense. The San Diego, Calif. native, ranks in the nations top 40 with a save percentage of .720. In her first game against the Lancers' Schlesier recorded six saves in over 72 minutes of work.

Up next for the Tigers is another NorPac Tournament game that will depend on the Tigers outcome and the result between California and Radford. If Pacific wins they will play on Friday, Nov. 4 at 4:00 pm, but if they lose the game will take place on Friday at 6:30 pm against either California or Raldford.