KUTZTOWN, Pa. — Saints field hockey dropped their first road contest of the season, losing by a score of 9-0 to top-ranked Kutztown University.
The first quarter opened with a challenge for D'Youville as Kutztown took an early lead with Jessica Traynor scoring just 49 seconds into the match, assisted by Marissa Rice. Despite the offensive pressure from Kutztown, D'Youville's
Sarah Reifsnyder made crucial saves, including stopping shots from Meryl Mesenbrink and Traynor.
Chloe Burkhard organized multiple penalty corners late in the quarter, but the team was unable to convert, ending the quarter with a 4-0 deficit.
The second quarter commenced with a goal by Kutztown's Erin Gonzalez just 55 seconds in, extending their lead to 5-0. D'Youville's defense, anchored by Reifsnyder, faced intense pressure, with her making six crucial saves throughout the quarter. Despite Reifsnyder's efforts, Kutztown's Rice found the net in the 20th minute, assisted by Olivia Kirkpatrick, bringing the score to 6-0 as the quarter concluded.
The third quarter began with a strong defensive performance by D'Youville, as goalkeeper Reifsnyder made a string of crucial saves in the opening minutes, and stopping a sequence of shots later in the period, keeping Kutztown scoreless in the quarter. Despite a green card issued to
Sydney Bolesta, D'Youville maintained their defensive stance, preventing any goals from the home team.
The fourth quarter began with a quick goal by Kutztown's Gonzalez, following a save by Reifsnyder. Despite multiple penalty corners and shots from Kutztown, Reifsnyder recorded several saves. However, Kutztown extended their lead with goals by Rice and Julia Traynor, concluding the game with a 9-0 advantage.
Sophomore goalkeeper Reifsnyder made 21 saves in a challenging matchup, showcasing her defensive capabilities across four quarters. Freshman defender
Carter Bower contributed with two shot attempts, applying pressure on the opposing defense.
In their next game, the Saints travel to Bloomsburg, Pa., to face sixth-ranked Bloomsburg University on Friday, with the action beginning at 11 a.m.
