RICHMOND -- The Earlham College field hockey team sent its seniors off with a win in Darrell Beane Stadium with a 3-1 score over Wittenberg University. The Quakers have clinched at least a second-place finish in the North Coast Athletic Conference and will host their first tournament game on Tuesday. 

The Quakers improved to 15-2 (6-1 NCAC) while the Tigers fell to 10-8 (4-4 NCAC).

After a scoreless first quarter, Earlham senior Denise Bergdolt scored the opening goal for the Quakers. She was assisted by Molly McKellar on a penalty corner. Bergdolt secured the ball near the top of the penalty arc and fired a shot low and to the left side of the Tiger goalkeeper for the score. 

Earlham scored again less than two minutes later from Reilly Swislosky. The Quakers were pushed up in an attack after a penalty corner and Regan Seeman ended up with the ball in front of the goal. She elected to make the extra pass to Swislosky who had an open opportunity on the backside of the goal. 

Guin Schalck netted the final goal for Earlham in the 44th minute of play. The Quakers were pulled back on defense for a Tiger penalty corner. After making the stop the defense sent the ball upfield to Schalck. The junior ran off on a breakaway all the way up the left sideline where she cut towards the goal and slotted a shot behind the goalkeeper for the score. 

The Tigers scored a consolation goal in the 44th minute off of a penalty corner play. 

Earlham took 21 shots with 10 landing on frame, and the Quakers tallied eight penalty corners. The Earlham defense only allowed three shots from the Tigers all game. 

Reigning NCAC Player of the Week, Meg Murphy collected one save in goal. 

The Quakers have clinched a home game for their first round of the NCAC tournament. This will mark the first time in program history that the field hockey team has qualified for the NCAC postseason championship. The Quakers still have a chance to win the regular season championship with a Kenyon loss tonight and a Quaker win over Ohio Wesleyan tomorrow. 

This game served as senior day for Earlham, Murphy, Bergdolt, McKellar, Olivia Layne and Kate Neal were honored before the game for their contributions to the program over the last four years. 

Earlham has a quick turnaround as the Quakers travel to Delaware, Ohio tomorrow where they will conclude their regular season play against Ohio Wesleyan University. Earlham will host either the third or fourth seed in the NCAC tournament on Tuesday in Darrell Beane Stadium.