Skip to main content

Allie Holtry anchors Ship's strong defense


From the opening whistle, Greencastle-Antrim's field hockey team put a barrage of shots on Shippensburg's cage Tuesday afternoon.

But only one of them got past Lady Hound goalie Morgan Ocker in the first half, and that's because not too many got all the way to her. Ocker can thank Allie Holtry for that.

Holtry was one of several strong pieces of the Shippensburg defense in a narrow Mid Penn Colonial Division loss.

Related:  Greencastle holds off Shippensburg, 2-1

"She has been absolutely tremendous," Ship coach Angela Hostetter said. "That's not a position she played last year, but she has just stepped up absolutely tremendously."

Shippensburg graduated its entire backfield last season, so junior Holtry has taken up a new role. Against the Blue Devils, she had at least three defensive saves, including stopping a shot on the second of two consecutive penalty corner attempts.

Greencastle coach Becca Rice said, "(Shippensburg) did have some strong defensive parts to their play. Their big asset is their ability to really hit the ball and drive the ball away from our offense on grass. That's an advantage they have, and our girls aren't used to that. I think that pulled the ball away from the circle a lot more."

Shippensburg's defense is currently allowing just 2.2 goals against per game.