BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- Senior forward Keriann Badessa scored twice and added a pair of assists to lead the Moravian College field hockey team to a 4-2 non-conference win over Roanoke (Va.) College Sunday afternoon at Rocco Calvo Field.
The Greyhounds won their second match of the weekend in less than 24 hours after a 2-1 win at Marywood University on Saturday and just hours after participating in the 2013 Heartwalk Sunday morning.
"It was nice to actually play with a lead," stated Head Coach Amy Endler. "I said to the girls beforehand let's play with the lead and see how that feels. It was nice to get on the board first, and play with the lead then increase it. It was a nice double win this weekend for our girls.
"It was a busy weekend, and I think it was good for us," Endler continued. "We were able to get a lot accomplished, and keep busy. I told the girls on the sideline that maybe we should do a two mile walk every day before a game because I thought we played so well. We're really putting it together on offense, getting the shots and the corners and putting the ball in the back of the cage."
Moravian jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute when Badessa came down the goal line from the right side and put a crossing pass across the goal mouth to junior midfielder Catherine Duffin, who tapped the pass into an open net for her third goal of the season.
Three and a half minutes later, the Greyhounds would strike again, this time on a penalty corner. Senior midfielder Chelsea Grotyohann passed the ball into Badessa, who ran a give-and-go with Duffin, drilling the shot in from the left side on the return pass from Duffin for Badessa's team-leading fourth goal of the season.
"Keriann played tremendously today," Endler said. "She was doing it all, dribbling down the field and getting it into the circle, scoring, assisting. She really had it all going today."
Moravian would get eight more shots on goal in the first half, including a pair right in front of the goal by junior forward Taylor Holly in the 26th minute, but the Greyhounds were unable to extend their lead before the intermission.
After Roanoke put an early shot on goal in the second half, Moravian had a chance to extend the lead again in the 37th minute when sophomore midfielder/defender Rebecca Hamel took a penalty stroke. However, Maroons' keeper Candice Fisher came up with the stop. About a minute later, Badessa would give Moravian a 3-0 lead when she tapped in a loose ball after a shot by sophomore forward Kelly O'Donnell was stopped by Fisher.
The Maroons would get on the scoreboard in the 43rd minute to break up the shutout, but the Greyhounds would need just 40 seconds to get their three-goal lead back. Badessa broke in on a break and put a center pass that Grotyohann tapped into the net for her fourth goal of the season. The point gave Badessa six points in the match, the first time a Greyhound player has reached six points since Briana Van Buskirk did it versus Mercy College on October 18, 2011.
Roanoke finished off the scoring in the 65th minute of the match. Moravian had a 26-9 advantage in shots in the game, and the Greyhounds put 20 of those shots on goal while limiting the Maroons to four shots on goal. Moravian also held a 15-6 advantage in penalty corners.
"I stressed that at Marywood yesterday to keep them out of our end, the 25 and below," Endler said. "I don't know if we're consciously doing it, but I think our midfield is where the strength is and defense picks it up as well. We have a lot of experience back there with two juniors and a senior as well as a senior keeper. That really helps in limiting the shots."
Senior goalie Andrea Eck had two saves in 60 minutes of action for the Greyhounds while freshman Megan Kanyuk played the final ten minutes. Fisher posted 16 saves for Roanoke.
The Greyhounds are scheduled to return to action on Wednesday, September 25 when rival Muhlenberg College heads to Betty Prince Field for the annual Matte Award matchup starting at 4:00 p.m.
