EDWARDSVILLE – It was do or die at Schmidt Stadium on Wednesday night as the Wilkes University field hockey team took on the Drew Rangers with massive playoff implications on the line. With the winner claiming the sixth and final seed in the 2023 Landmark Conference playoffs, tensions were high in the regular season finale. An early goal by Maura Hensel (Selinsgrove, PA/Selinsgrove) proved to be enough as the Colonels won the match 1-0 and punched their ticket to the postseason.
 
The win elevated Wilkes' record to 9-8 overall and 4-5 in the Landmark. Drew fell to 7-10 on the season and 3-6 in conference play.
 
The Wilkes defense fended off an early Ranger penalty corner to open the game and quickly transitioned down the field. The ensuing Colonel attack produced a pair of shots by Morgan Hermanofski (Shickshinny, PA/Northwest Area) and one by Olivia Gayoski (Forty Fort, PA/Wyoming Valley West) before Hensel ultimately fired a shot to the back of the net to give Wilkes a 1-0 lead just 1:55 into the contest. Hermanofski picked up an assist on Hensel's first goal of the season.
 
Drew responded with offensive pressure of their own and were awarded two penalty corners. The Wilkes defense stood tall as Carly Eidle (East Greenville, PA/Upper Perkiomen) made her first save of the evening and two Colonel defenders blocked shots to extinguish the Ranger attack.
 
Hermanofski rattled off three shots in just over a minute and a half, however Drew goalkeeper Olyvia Jackson stopped all three attempts. Her efforts kept the Rangers' deficit at one goal.
 
At 14:52, the Colonel defense made another crucial block following a Drew penalty corner to keep the visitors off the board with under ten seconds remaining in the quarter.
 
Just 2:53 seconds into the second quarter, Eidle made her second save of the night. She would record one more later in the quarter, allowing Wilkes to hang on to their 1-0 lead as both teams entered halftime.
 
Drew came out of the break with intensity, rifling off two shots, one that Eidle got a piece of and then Cortney Keim (Trevorton, PA/Line Mountain) cleared away behind her and another that Eidle made a pad save on following a dangerous penalty corner for the Rangers. Both offenses struggled to find a rhythm in the third frame with neither team able to generate sustained momentum on the attack. With 15 minutes to go in the pivotal final game of the regular season, the Blue and Gold continued to protect their 1-0 lead.
 
Just over a minute into the final quarter, Hermanofski looked to score an insurance marker as she sent her seventh shot of the night on net. This proved to be the final shot of the game for Wilkes, as they spent the remainder of the frame protecting the ball and keeping play away from Eidle.
 
Drew would test the Colonels once more in the dying minutes of the match, forcing their way to two penalty corners. One more blocked shot for Wilkes would seal the deal as players rushed onto the field to congratulate Eidle and celebrate the playoff berth.
 
Hensel netted the lone goal of the match while Hermanofski led the Colonels with seven shots and an assist. Anmarie Lebron (Pennsauken, NJ/Pennsauken) and Gayoski also registered one and two shots respectively. Eidle made four critical saves on the night and picked up her sixth shutout of the season while Keim recorded her 14th defensive save of the season which has her tied for seconds in Division III.
 
Drew's offense was spearheaded by Jackie Melone, who fired three shots through 60 minutes. Janelle Arch and Tyler Olivio each recorded two shots as well. Jackson made seven saves for the Rangers.
 
The Colonels return to action on Saturday when they travel to the University of Scranton for a 7:00 p.m. showdown with the third-seed Royals in the first round of Landmark Conference Playoffs.