Red Lion's Ali Posey, left, follows through on her shot and hits South Western's Sydney Szparaga during the second half of their game Thursday at Red Lion. Posey scored four goals to lead the Lions to a 5-2 win. (Daily Record/Sunday News -- Eileen Joyce)

York, PA -

Less than six minutes into Thursday's field hockey game against South Western, Red Lion found itself in an unfamiliar position.

South Western's Laken Bull scored 5:30 into the game, giving the visitors an early lead at Horn Field.

That's when Red Lion's Ali Posey took over. The reigning Division I player of the year scored four goals in the Lions' 5-2 win.

"We were all really confident about this game," Posey said.

Posey's most notable goal of the game came with 2:55 to play. The goal, which Posey flipped high above the head of Mustangs keeper Hannah Glover, gave the home team a 4-2 lead.

"We started to do that one as a corner," Posey said. "But, on corners I feel really rushed because it takes a lot of time and practice. Right there, that goalie came out really far and I didn't have anyone really to pass to, so I just lifted it over her."

Added Red Lion head coach Carol Gillmen, "She had really good presence. A lot of times goalies are waiting for the big, hard shot. We've been working with our forwards on placement of shots and not always taking the big back swing."

Alyssa Castle added a goal with 30 seconds to play for Red Lion, which improved to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in Division I.

"South Western had some really good pressure at the beginning of the game and were beating us to the ball," Gillmen said. "I was interested to see how we would respond. I don't know if

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we've been scored on yet in the first half this season."

Four minutes after Bull scored the game's first goal, Posey answered by scoring at 20:30. Coming off a penalty corner, Posey took a pass from Alexa Taylor and blasted a shot, beating Glover to her right.

Posey's goal with 35 seconds to play in the first half gave the Lions a 2-1 halftime lead.

"I was really pleased with my team that they kept their composure after falling behind," Gillmen said.

Red Lion took a 3-1 lead with 18:41 to play in the game on Posey's third goal. Cassidy Barshinger assisted on the goal.

The Mustangs (1-5) got back within a goal on Alexia Mort's goal at 16:51.

"I don't think 5-2 is indicative of the way we played," South Western head coach Hollis Long said. "We're a young team, and I'm happy with the way they played."

Glover faced a barrage of shots and finished with 11 saves.

"She handled herself in that cage extremely well," Long said.

Long is hopeful that her team's fortune will change.

"We started off 4-1 last year and ended up taking a spiral, so I'm hoping it's the very opposite this year," Long said. "This is a different team with a brighter outlook."

RED LION 5, SO. WESTERN 2
So. Western -- 1   1 -- 2
Red Lion -- 2   3 -- 5

   First Half -- 1. SW, Laken Bull, 24:30; 2. RL, Ali Posey (Alexa Taylor), 20:30; 3. RL, Posey, :35.
   Second Half -- 4. RL, Posey (Cassidy Barshinger), 18:41; 5. SW, Alexia Mort (Bull), 16:51; 6. RL, Posey, 2:55; 7. RL, Alyssa Castle, :30.
   Shots On Goal -- SW 9, RL 16.
   Corners -- SW 5, RL 7.
   Goalies -- South Western, Hannah Glover (11 saves); Red Lion, Gabi Uberti (5 saves).
  


Red Lion's Ali Posey gets low to take a shot during Thursday's game against South Western. Posey's shot went wide, but she scored four goals to lead Red Lion to a 5-2 victory. (Daily Record/Sunday News -- Eileen Joyce)