Oct. 18, 2008

Box Score

Boone, N.C. - Pacific senior Erica Nestle (San Jose, Calif.) scored with just over 10 minutes remaining to lift the Pacific field hockey team past the Radford Highlanders, 2-1, on Saturday, Oct. 18. The NorPac contest was played in a neutral site at Appalachian State's Kidd Brewer Stadium.

The victory was Pacific's third consecutive, moving the Tigers to 4-9 on the season and 3-1 in NorPac Conference play. Radford, meanwhile, fell to 7-8 overall and 3-2 in conference. It was the seventh one-goal game in eight meetings between the schools.

Nestle's game-winner came after she collected a pass by junior Kim Keyawa (Chico, Calif.) in front of the goal and pushed the ball into the cage. The game-winning goal was made possible by the play of senior goalkeeper Kelly Miller (Monterey, Calif.). Miller made two saves on a Radford flurry, including a point blank stop on a laser blast from Niamh Connolly. Miller finished the game with six saves and has been a factor in each of the Tigers' last three consecutive wins.

After Nestle's goal, Radford had one chance to tie the game, earning a corner just before time expired, but the Highlanders committed a foul before they could get a shot off.

Early in the game, Radford jumped out to a 1-0 lead. It was the Highlanders' fourth corner as Connolly knocked in Lara Cariker's shot at the 12:55 mark. It was Connolly's first collegiate goal.

The Tigers responded on its first corner of the game to tie things up at 1-1. Senior Ashley Niccum (Simi Valley, Calif.) took the insert from junior Katy McDonough (Ventura, Calif.) and smacked a low shot from the left that snuck in the far post at 23:12.

Radford held advantages in shots, 5-4, and corners, 4-2 in the first half. Junior Megan Stucke (Richmond, Va.) and Pacific's Miller made three and two saves respectively.

Pacific was out shot in the contest, 9-8 by Radford. The Highlanders also finished the game holding a 5-3 advantage in corners.

Pacific returns to the field on Sunday, Oct. 19 as the Tigers conclude their three-game road trip to North Carolina looking for a sweep against Longwood at 11 a.m. ET. The game will be played once again at a neutral site at Appalachian State's Kidd Brewer Stadium.