WINCHESTER, Va – The Shenandoah University Field Hockey team opened the 2023 season in dominating fashion, with a statement win over the visiting Presidents from Washington and Jefferson College by a score of 9-0. The Hornets (1-0) wasted little time pressuring the Presidents (0-1) goalie, firing shots at will for the entire game.
Mairead McKibbin, started this season as she did for most of last season…scoring goals. The junior got the Hornets on the board just under five minutes into play when she found the back of the cage off of a pass from
Gracie Wilkerson. McKibbin was then the one who was able to dish out a helper as
Emily Swartzbaugh buried her first goal of the season into the back of the cage with 37 seconds left in the first quarter.
The start of the second quarter was more of the same, goals for the Hornets! This time it was Wilkerson cashing in with an unassisted goal just over a minute into the quarter.
Camryn DeLeva got her first goal of the season just over 30 seconds after Wilkerson scored her goal on a beautiful pass from McKibbon. McKibbon scored her second of the game 12 seconds later to put the Hornets up 5-0.
Rachel Koerner then finished off the strong first half with her first of the season, and the Hornets went to the break comfortably up 6-0.
After the break, it was all Hornets again.
Claudia Lenahan got in on the scoring action as she deposited a pass from
Kaitlyn Nakamura in the third quarter, for her first goal of the season. Nakamura, then was on the helping side of
Lily Kyvelos' first collegiate goal with 25 seconds left in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, it was
Abby Barefoot who scored the lonesome goal just under 90 seconds left in the game.
The Presidents best-scoring opportunity came when Sara Schriver broke free from her defender and found herself wide open in front of the cage. She thought she had a clear shot at the back of the cage, but
Camryn DeLeva made a fantastic defensive save to keep the clean sheet for the Hornet goaltenders.
The Hornets fired 37 shots with 18 being on frame, compared to the Presidents who only managed to get off two shots with one on goal.
Next up for the Hornets is a home match on Sunday afternoon with the No. 2 ranked Blue Jays from Johns Hopkins. Faceoff is set for 1 pm.
#GoSUHornets
