University of Hartford

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The Hartford Field Hockey team hosted Johnson & Wales University (R.I.) for a Conference of New England match up, falling 6-1 despite an early goal from sophomore Ava Lipson (Colchester, Vt.), who would score for the second consecutive game.

Rapid Recap

• Hartford would come out ready to attack in the opening quarter, as the Hawks would look to establish offensive pressure early. After Carolyn Somers made a save on a Johnson & Wales shot in the opening minutes, Hartford would break through at 9:40. Sophomore Lipson would find the back of the cage off an assist from freshman Alexina Lentes (Agawam, Mass.), giving the Hawks an early 1-0 advantage. Lipson's goal would mark her second consecutive game scoring and fourth of the season, continuing her recent offensive momentum. The Wildcats would respond quickly, as Kate Verderber would even the score at 10:19 off an assist from Susannah Brown. The visitors would continue to generate opportunities, but Somers would make two saves in the opening quarter to help Hartford enter the second quarter tied at 1-1.
• The Hawks would look to regain their advantage in the second quarter, as both teams would battle to create scoring opportunities. Johnson & Wales would earn two penalty corners and put a shot on goal, but Somers would come up with another save to keep the game even. Hartford would more pressure earning their first penalty corner of the contest at 25:31. Lipson would record a shot that was blocked, while sophomore Kyra Benard (Agawam, Mass.) would test Johnson & Wales goalkeeper Sophia Brea with two opportunities. Brea would make a save on Benard'sfirst shot, while Hannah Geil would make a defensive save on her second attempt to preserve the tie. Both teams would head into halftime knotted at 1-1.
• The Wildcats would come out of halftime looking to take control of the contest, putting significant pressure on the Hartford defense in the third quarter. The visitors would earn multiple penalty corners and generate several shots on goal, but Somers would make a series of important saves to keep the Hawks within reach. Hartford would create an opportunity of its own, as Lentes would put a shot on goal that was saved by Brea. Johnson & Wales would eventually break through at 37:46, as Susannah Brown would find the back of the cage to give the visitors a 2-1 lead. Just over two minutes later, at 39:49, Geil would extend the advantage to 3-1 off an assist from Ava Pontes. The Hawks would have to head into the final quarter looking to mount a comeback.
• The Wildcats would continue to build on its advantage in the fourth quarter, scoring three more goals to secure the 6-1 victory. At 48:00, Brown would record her second goal of the afternoon off an assist from Geil, extending the visitors' lead to 4-1. Just 29 seconds later, Pontes would find the back of the cage to make it a 5-1 game. Hartford would continue to search for an offensive breakthrough, as freshman Olive Thatcher (Keene, N.H.) would record a shot on goal towards the end of the fourth, but Brea would make the save to keep the Hawks off the scoreboard. Junior Nicole Ciampa (Jefferson, N.J.) would enter the cage for Hartford late in the contest, making her appearance with just over seven minutes remaining. Johnson & Wales would add one final goal in the 57th minute, as Pontes would score her second of the quarter to cap off the scoring and secure the 6-1 final.

• Lipson would lead Hartford with two shots, including one on goal, while scoring the Hawks' lone goal and extending her scoring streak to two consecutive games. Benard would add two shots, both on goal, while Thatcher and Lentes would each record one shot on goal. Lentes would finish with an assist on Lipson's opening goal.
• The Hawks would finish with six shots and five shots on goal, while Johnson & Wales would record 17 shots and 13 shots on goal.
• The Wildcats would hold a 12-1 advantage in penalty corners.
• Somers would record seven saves during her 53 minutes in goal, while Ciampa would play the final 7. 
• Brown would lead Johnson & Wales with two goals and an assist, while Pontes would add two goals and an assist. Geil would contribute a goal and an assist, and Verderber would finish with one goal.