Field Hockey Drops GNAC Contest at Home to Simmons, 3-1

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) field hockey team battled, but dropped a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) contest, 3-1, to the visiting Simmons University Sharks on a picturesque fall Saturday afternoon at the USJ Field Hockey Field. With the result, the Blue Jays dip to 1-4 overall and 1-2 in GNAC play, while the Sharks improve to 4-1 overall and 3-1 in conference action.

KEY MOMENTS

• The Sharks were quick to strike first, scoring within the first five minutes off the contest. Striding along the baseline, junior forward Emilia Elko (Richboro, Pa.) unleashed a shot that deflected off a USJ defender and into the goal to give Simmons a 1-0 advantage 4:25 into the game.
• Just before the first quarter ended, Simmons struck again to double its lead. Freshman defender Ava Kahl (Westfield, Mass.) connected with fellow classmate Nellie Long (Vineyard Haven, Mass.) at the 11:39 mark to put the visitors up 2-0 entering the first intermission.
• The Blue Jays were able to cut their deficit in half as they were the only team to score in the second quarter with a strike 26:38 into the game. Sophomore forward Aurelia Barker (Thomaston, Conn.) made a nice move to create some space and fire a shot, but it was initially saved by Simmons' freshman goalkeeper Sam Buck (Portsmouth, N.H.). However, the save landed on the stick of sophomore midfielder Devan Fox (Granville, Mass.). With Buck out of position, Fox's first shot was saved by Simmons' sophomore defender Zoe Schmaling (Standish, Maine), but Fox kept her cool and deposited the rebound into the back of the goal to make it 2-1 entering halftime.
• The third quarter was played without a goal, as USJ's senior goalkeeper Wendy Bowden (Old Saybrook, Conn.) kept the Sharks at bay with three big-time saves in the period, giving the Blue Jays a fighting chance heading into the final stanza.
• However, Simmons denied any chance of a USJ comeback attempt, adding an insurance goal early in the fourth quarter. Elko found the back of the cage for her second goal of the day off a feed from junior forward Hannah Groves (Durham, Maine) at the 47:07 mark to account for the 3-1 final margin of victory for the Sharks.

NOTES

• Simmons outshot USJ overall in the contest, 25-6, including 15-4 in shots on goal.
• Barker, Fox, and sophomore midfielder Ariana Komonaj (Thomaston, Conn.) each registered two shots on the day for the Blue Jays. Barker and Fox combined for the four shots on goal with two apiece.
• Fox has now scored in back-to-back games for the Blue Jays and leads the team with six points through five games on the season.
• Simmons' junior forward Sydney Gonyea (Lebanon, N.H.) had a game-high seven shots, while Gonyea and Elko each registered a game-best four shots on goal.
• The Sharks held a edge in penalty corner opportunities, 7-1.
• Bowden played the full 60 minutes between the posts for the Blue Jays and was dealt the loss to drop to 1-4 on the year. She finished with a season-high 11 saves on the day.
• Buck also played the full game in goal for Simmons and picked up the win to improve to 2-0. She made a pair of saves in the triumph.
• USJ's senior defender McKenna Gibson (Old Saybrook, Conn.) and Simmons' Schmaling each recorded a defensive save in the contest.
• Simmons now holds a 3-0 edge in the all-time series history with an 18-1 advantage in goal differential.

UP NEXT

Field hockey will look to get back into the win column when it returns to action next at home on Wednesday, September 20 against Russell Sage College. The action between the Blue Jays and Gators is scheduled to get underway at 6:00 p.m. on the USJ Field Hockey Field in West Hartford.

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