Aug. 31, 2007

Box Score

Stockton, Calif. - Senior Melody Demel (Fallbrook, Calif.) notched two assists to help lift the Pacific field hockey team to a 3-1 win over Missouri State on Friday, Aug. 31.

With the win the Tigers moved to 1-2 on the season, while Missouri State fell to 0-2.

Following a defensive battle that produced a scoreless first half, the Tigers broke through just into the second minute of the second half. Demel got the scoring started as she fed sophomore Kim Keyawa (Chico, Calif.) from the top of the circle with a pass that split the defense and allowed Keyawa to beat only the Missouri State goalie to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

A little over five minutes later, Missouri State knotted the game at 1-1 with a goal on a penalty corner as Amanda Miyashita took the third pass of a corner from Melissa Millin and fired it past Pacific senior Valerie Niles (San Jose, Calif.).

The game remained tied until the 60th minute of the contest when once again Demel found an open teammate to put the Tigers ahead. This time Demel used a crossing shot from the right side of the field. Sophomore Katy McDonough (Ventura, Calif.) tipped Demel's shot into the back of the net to give the Tigers a 2-1 advantage.

Pacific added an insurance goal just over three minutes later as junior Ashley Niccum (Simi Valley, Calif.) converted the Tigers' first goal on a penalty corner of the season. Niccum slapped in the goal after McDonough inserted the ball and sophomore Brianna Cummins (Fallbrook, Calif.) stopped her pass. Both McDonough and Cummins earned an assist on the play.

Pacific outshot Missouri State, 20-11, and held a 13-5 advantage on corner penalties.

The Tigers will be back in action on Sunday, Sept. 2 as Pacific battles Stanford in the first NorPac Conference game of the season at 1 p.m.