The Sacred Heart University women’s field hockey team lost their home opener in an overtime shootout against Hofstra University.
The Pioneers’ only goal was scored by freshman Jenna Baxter, with an assist from junior Jaden Ray to tie the game and lead the women into overtime. Baxter’s goal was the first of her collegiate career.
“[Baxter’s] such a positive person,” said Ray. “I love being that person that’s able to give opportunities to other players so when I was able to hit the ball and she scored I was just on top of the world.”
An undecided overtime was followed up with a shootout, where Hofstra was able to take the game in the sixth round. This loss dropped the women’s record to 2-4, with three of the four losses being only a one-point difference.
“We lost to Drexel 2-1, we lost to Hofstra in a shootout, and we lost to Dartmouth 3-2, so we are in every single game and not getting smashed 6-0, 8-0,” said Head Coach Sydney Van Der Merwe. “At the moment, we are in a good spot going forward to where we want to be.”
Despite the losing record, senior Samantha Maresca agreed with the coach and felt confident about the start of the season.
“I don’t think losing our home opener is a reflection of the season at all,” said Maresca. “I think we took all the good things and the bad things from those games and we are going to grow from them.”
Following the shootout loss, the Pioneers have faced off against two ivy leagues, losing to both Dartmouth University on Sept. 15 and Yale University on Sept. 20.
Source: Mark F. Conrad, Sacred Heart University.
Now at a losing record of 2-6, Maresca still believes in her team and thinks they have a good shot for the rest of the season.
“We have always been a slower start type of team, and I think that this year we feel stronger now even with our losing record than we did at the end of last season after winning a championship,” said Maresca. “We’re all very excited and really looking forward to what the team can grow into this year.”
Van Der Merwe believes the women’s resilient effort is a product of the environment the players have built within the team.
“The team is very close, they are like a little family,” said Van Der Merwe. “We lost five or six seniors last year but within them leaving, the first years have filled their void. There’s no gap.”
The Pioneers will look to rely on their team environment and try for a win in Worcester, Mass., as they take on the Holy Cross Crusaders on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
Sacred Heart Athletics contributed to this article.
