A last-minute penalty-shot goal by Katie Savage led the women’s field hockey team to their first win of the season against the Delaware Valley College Aggies, 3-2, on Wednesday, Sept. 12, at Edith Robb Dixon Field.
The Lady Cavaliers started the season off 0-4 with losses against Swarthmore College, Drew University, Rowan University and Gettysburg College.
Momentum throughout the first seven minutes was very good, as Cabrini’s offense was mainly in the Aggies zone. Soon later, momentum slowly started to change in favor of Delaware Valley.
“There’s a ton of potential [to turn the season around],” 17th-year head coach Jackie Neary said. “I think in games where we lose by one or two goals so far and we’re playing not at our best.
“I’m dying to see the game where we’re at our best, because I think there are remarkable things waiting to happen. I have high hopes.”
The Lady Cavs created good opportunities in front of the Aggies’ net up until Delaware Valley broke the scoreless game 10 minutes in, making it 1-0 tickling through the sticks off of a corner.
The Cavaliers soon became sloppy with their passes and committed fouls. With just under seven minutes left in the half, the Cavaliers got up on the scoreboard with an own goal by Delaware Valley College.
At the end of the first half, the score was 1-1.
“Historically with my hockey teams we start out like this,” Neary said. “I get worried because we might not rebound from it, but today we did. Today was huge for them, and gave them confidence.”
The second half started out with many turnovers by the Lady Cavs. With 12:17 left in the half, Delaware Valley took the lead, 2-1. With momentum going back and forth from both teams, junior Stephanie Toomey put Cabrini back up on the scoreboard by making it 2-2 with 5:17 left in the game from an assist by Lindsey Atzert.
Key saves made by Genevieve Paulin kept the score knotted into the final minute.
“As a team we all needed to work together. In the first seven minutes, we came out as a team, we went up and down the field together, then we died down a little bit in the first half,” junior Katie Savage said. “After recovering during halftime we came back in the second half really hard together and that made a difference and to get the win today”
As the game was nearing an end, Katie Savage received a penalty shot with 27.6 seconds left. Savage kept her focus and as soon as the whistle blew scored the game-winning goal for the Cavaliers.
“It feels good [to get the game winning goal],” Savage said. “It took everyone on the field to get it up the field. We had a lot of interceptions, but all of us played our hearts out.”
This marked the Lady Cavs’ first win of the season. The next game is away on Tuesday, Sept. 18, against Notre Dame of Maryland University at 4 p.m.
“[This game] will help them out positively for next game,” Neary said. “They needed that win.”
