Field hockey starts with 5-1 victory over Wildcats

By Mike McPeak
Flat Hat Staff Writer

The field hockey team started off its season with a 5-1win at home last Saturday against the University of New Hampshire Wildcats.

Junior Ann Ekberg started things off for the team by scoring an unassisted goal 10 minutes into the game. She notched her second goal with just over 11 minutes left in the first half, assisted by senior co-captain Jess Jiao.

The Tribe's offensive domination continued throughout the game.

It didn't take long for Junior Kristen Southerland to give the Tribe a 3-0 lead. Two minutes after Ekberg's second goal, Southerland put in the rebound off of a penalty corner. Freshman Ginny Sutton closed out the scoring in the first half off of Jiao's second assist of the day, giving the Tribe a 4-0 lead in the first half. The goal was the first of Sutton's collegiate career.

New Hampshire was held scoreless in the first half by the efforts of the Tribe defense and sophomore goalie Claire Miller.

Kristen Weldon scored the only goal for UNH early in the second half, but Southerland soon answered with her second goal of the day. Miller was credited with two saves on the day.

Returning to the team to play defense, sophomore Kelli Duggan feels that even though the team is young, all the players performed well.

"We played really well as a team," Duggan said. "The whole team is very unified."

The team has two matches this weekend. Tomorrow they face off against West Chester University's Golden Rams. Sunday the Tribe goes against the Temple University Owls. Both games will be played at Temple in Philadelphia.