WINCHESTER, Va. – The Shenandoah University field hockey team opened up its 2016 season Thursday afternoon with a 4-0 non-league victory over Hood College.
The Hornets (1-0) scored just five minutes in to provide enough offense to down the Blazers (0-1).
Morgan Lingo had that season-opening tally for SU, taking a feed from Kayla Alderman and knocking home the shot from seven yards out.
In the 28th minute, coach Ashley Smeltzer-Kraft's squad earned an insurance goal as Lingo set up Morgan Payne for the first of what would prove to be three straight goals for the sophomore.
Payne completed her natural hat trick with goals in the 63rd and 66th minutes. Megan Stevens assisted on the latter goal.
The offense was more than enough to secure the victory as Shenandoah held Hood without a shot in the contest.
SU took all 42 of the game's shots and held a 13-0 advantage in penalty corners as HC struggled with possession for the majority of the contest.
Blazers keeper Hailey Poisal had 24 saves on the day.
The shutout was the sixth of senior goalkeeper Jessica Brown's career.
Shenandoah is back in action on Saturday in a 5 p.m. non-league game at Washington and Jefferson.
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