Field Hockey Goes 2-0 On Weekend

The Red (2-0) has flown out of the gates this season with victories against Georegtown and Davidson over the weekend –– raring to prove that they are not a second-place team. The team was led by senior attacker Kelley Kantarian, who was named the Co-Ivy League Player of the week. Kantarian had three goals on six shots in addition to an assist over the course of the weekend series.
The team opened its season away at Davidson (2-2), immediately exemplifying the amount of hard work the women had put into the offseason with a 3-1 victory. Within five minutes, the Red was on the board and scored all three goals within the first 35 minutes of the game. Kantarian scored the opening and closing goals around freshman attacker Kat DiPastina’s first goal of her collegiate career.[img_assist|nid=37906|title=Taking matters into her own hands|desc=Senior attacker Kelley Kantarian received Co-Ivy League Player of the week honors.|link=node|align=right|width=336|height=204]
Defensively, the Red was very effective. In the first half, the Wildcats were shotless and not even offered a penalty corner by the tough defense, allowing starting senior goalkeeper Mel Jue to relax in net.
Sophomore goalkeeper Alex Botte faced the Wildcats’ offense during the second half of the game. In comparison to Davidson’s goalkeeper, who gave up three goals on six shots, Botte only gave up one goal on five shots.
And then the Red one-upped itself the following day against Georgetown (0-4) at American University, winning 5-1.
Each of the five goals was scored by a different player on 12 shots. Kantarian and Catie De Stio each had a goal and an assist. Adding to the tally were senior co-captain Katie Kirnan and junior midfielders Mattie Prodanovic and Sara Sanders. Botte proved strong again –– supported by the talented Red defense she only gave up one goal on four shots.
“This weekend we were really pleased with the way we came out. We came out with really good intensity and a good work ethnic. We were able to get up on scoreboard quickly,” Kirnan said.
The Red’s excellent ratios for shots and penalty corners taken were keys to both victories. Against Davidson, the Red had 12 shots and six penalty corners to Davidson’s six shots and lone penalty corner. Against the Hoyas, the Red outshot the Hoyas, 18-5, and doubled the Hoyas’ penalty corners with 10.
The Red will be opening its home season today at 4 p.m., at Marsha Dodson Field against Siena College (2-1).
“We are really looking forward to Siena, to continue with the intensity we brought this past weekend,” Kirnan added.
The Saints are coming off their first non-conference victory in 12 attempts and will have their hands full with the charged-up Red.