HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Dickinson field hockey team began Centennial Conference play with a bang on Saturday afternoon as
Alexandra Hockwitt,
Abby Marthins (2) and
Becca Woods all found the back of the cage en route to a 4-1 win over Haverford College in the Centennial Conference opener at Swan Field.
The first ten minutes were played mostly in the middle of the pitch as neither side was able to record a shot. The Fords finally worked their way into the offensive half and recorded the first two shots of the match as both Erica Pardon and Anna Bradley were denied by DC keeper
Olivia Renault. It would take until the final minute of the period for the Red and White to get their opening shot as A. Marthins played a corner into
Ella Krenzer who let a shot fly past HC goalie Mary Smith. However, the home defense was positioned perfectly on the line to keep the ball out, or so they thought as a penalty stroke was awarded to the Devils. Woods stepped up to the spot and fired the ball into the goal for a 1-0 lead through one.
Dickinson carried their momentum from the end of the first right into the second as A. Marthins tested Smith just 59-seconds into the frame. The Red and White continued to apply the pressure throughout the rest of the period recording two more shots with both
Nicole Uebele and Krenzer being shutdown by Smith to send the game to the half at 1-0.
With 3:15 off the clock in the third the Devils would make the most of the first shot of the period as A. Marthins rocketed a shot beyond the reach of Smith to take a 2-0 advantage. Dickinson earned corners in both the 35th and 27th leading to two more chances. However the offering by
Morgan Yandow-Harding went wide, while
Katie Marthins was stopped by Smith. The Fords tallied the next three shots, but Renault was up to the task on Amy Kim, while Holly Vincent, Louisa Coughlin and Joelle McElroy had their chances get nowhere near Renault's goal. Haverford would eventually breakthrough with just under a minute left thanks to Ileana Rodriguez. Dickinson had a response with three-seconds remaining when a corner by A. Marthins went to her sister K. Marthins who then sent the ball back to A. Marthins for the goal and the 3-1 lead going to the fourth.
To begin the final period
Taylor Schlein took over between the pipes and watched her teammates give her a three-goal cushion when Hockwitt jumped on her own rebound after Smith denied her once. There would be just one more shot the rest of the game, but the attempt from Rachel Marlin went nowhere near Schlein as the final horn sounded.
Red Devil Leaders
Goals - A. Marthins (2), Hockwitt and Woods (1)
Shots - A. Marthins (3), Hockwitt and Krenzer (2)
Saves - Renault (3), Schlein (0)
Ford Leaders
Goals - Rodriguez (1)
Shots - Eight players tied (1)
Saves - Smith (5)
Next on the Pitch
Dickinson (3-4, 1-0 Centennial) returns home on Wednesday afternoon at 4pm for a Centennial Conference matchup against the rival Franklin & Marshall College at the Biddle Field Complex.
