Going into the day with a 6-0 record for the season, the field hockey team was hoping to extend their record with a win. Playing against Eastern, the girls dominated, scoring the second-most goals in a game in program history, right behind a 13-0 win over Albertus Magnus College in 2018.
The first half of the game started strong, with senior Gabi Moroney scoring within the first minute. By the end of the first half, the Ducks were able to gain a comfortable lead with 21 attempted shots, and 16 of them on goal. There was a successful goal from junior Lauren Flynn when Moroney followed up with her second for the half. Also in the first half were goals from sophomore Ava Pelletier off an assist from first-year Brooke Hughes, juniors Sophia Cozza and Jess Kopernick.
The pressure was on the Ducks in the second half in an attempt to hold onto their lead. Only two minutes into the second half was enough for Cozza to add her second goal for the day, giving her five in the last three days, and grow their lead to 7-0,a current season high. Junior Jenna Piantieri scored for the Ducks, and following her was first-year Rosella Birns with her first collegiate goal off of Hughes’ second assist of the game. Late in the second half, Moroney was able to notch her third goal, giving her a second career hat trick, while Hughes was able to get her third assist, tying the program’s single-game record, giving them a 10-0 lead on Eastern.
With senior Lily Wierzbicki in goal for the first half and sophomore Julianna O’Sheal making her second appearance in goal this season for the second half, the goalkeepers were able to keep their net successfully empty the whole game, giving the Ducks their second shutout of the season so far. By the end of the game, the Ducks managed a season high of 36 shots, 26 of them on goal, with a defense so strong that the Eagles were unsuccessful at making a single shot on goal.
The Ducks came out strong today and held their own, and they hope to continue this ever-growing winning streak at their next game against Washington and Lee University. The matchup will be the third in their series of three consecutive home games, and will take place on Saturday, September 27, at 12 p.m.
