Slavin, Stewart lead Abington past Upper Dublin

UPPER DUBLIN >> Abington took advantage of its opportunities inside the circle Tuesday afternoon.

The Ghosts scored on two penalty corners and one penalty stroke while playing strong defense in a 3-0 Suburban One League Liberty Division win over Upper Dublin at Spark Field.

“We’re really excited that our corner plays are starting to click,” Abington captain Camryn Stewart said. “That’s something we’ve been working on a lot in practice. We really want to capitalize on that call because it’s a really good opportunity.”

Captain Maddie Slavin got the scoring started late in the first quarter on a penalty corner. She was able to find space in the crowd in front of the Upper Dublin cage and put back a rebound for a 1-0 lead.

“We’re just working on really trying to get those rebounds and, like Cam said, capitalize on those opportunities,” Slavin said. “We’ve been working really hard on it.”

The one-goal difference stood through halftime until Stewart doubled the advantage early in the third quarter. She received the corner entry and passed to her right to Slavin, who sent it back left to Stewart. Stewart had time to set up her shot and put it in for a 2-0 lead less than four minutes after the half.

“That was new,” Stewart said of the give-and-go. “We just saw the opportunity for it and read what the other team was sending out on their defensive end. It wasn’t originally planned but it worked.”

In the fourth quarter, Stewart secured the win by putting away a penalty stroke with under six minutes to go. She went left and found the back of the cage to give the Ghosts (3-2, 2-1 SOL Liberty) plenty of breathing room in the final minutes.

“What I like to do is I already have a shot in mind and I’m going to stick to it,” Stewart said. “I just try to stay cool, not let the pressure get to me and I just imagine it as a push-pass right into the net.”

The Abington defense limited Upper Dublin to four shots on goal and four penalty corners. The Cardinals tried to hit on long passes throughout the game, but Abington’s back line had the speed to catch up with the ball-carrier before they could go to goal.

The Cardinals (1-3-1, 0-2-1 SOL Liberty) best scoring opportunity came late in the first half. Trailing 1-0, they drew Abington goalie Nina VanEkelenburg out of the goal and appeared to have an open cage. Slavin managed to get into position to make a defensive save to keep the ball out. VanEkenleburg recovered and made a diving save moments later before the Ghosts cleared the zone to end the threat.

“I just went for it,” Slavin said. “I was like, ‘This is not going in.’ I just saw that (the goalie) was out a little far, so I just wanted to make sure I was there and making sure no balls were going in.”

“I was really happy with how our defensive line gave it their all to not let the ball into the goal,” Stewart added.

Upper Dublin goalie Camryn Math made nine saves, including five in the fourth quarter, to keep the game close.

Abington 3, Upper Dublin 0

Abington             1 0 1 1 – 3

Upper Dublin     0 0 0 0 – 0

Goals: AB: Maddie Slavin, Camryn Stewart 2.

Assists: AB: Maddie Slavin.

Saves: AB: Nina VanEkelenburg 4. UD: Camryn Math 9.

Corners: AB: 7. UD: 4.