FOND DU LAC, Wis. – The Concordia Wisconsin field hockey team made the quick trip north to Marian on Tuesday night for a non-conference showdown with the Sabres. The Falcons controlled stretches of the contest and dominated the penalty-corner battle, but a pair of early Marian goals proved to be the difference in a 2-1 setback.
The loss moved the Falcons to 2-5 on the season.
Marian wasted little time finding the scoreboard, striking just 35 seconds into the contest.
The Blue and White responded by putting pressure on the Marian defense throughout the opening quarter. The Falcons earned four penalty corners, including three in the final six minutes.
Freshman Aly Schuster (Colgate, Wis.) nearly leveled the score in the closing seconds of the quarter, putting a shot in the goal following a CUW penalty corner, but the goal was overturned.
Concordia Wisconsin continued to control possession and generate opportunities in the second quarter. Senior Emily Robertson fired three shots in the period, including an attempt that forced another save from Clarey in the closing seconds.
The Sabres, however, capitalized on one of their limited opportunities and found the back of the cage with 35 seconds remaining in the half to give Marian a 2-0 advantage at the break.
The Falcons continued to battle in the third quarter. Senior Leah Mouganis (Pittsburgh, Pa.) opened the CUW attack with a shot following a penalty corner, and junior Charlie Coln (ST. Louis, Mo.) put another attempt on goal with three seconds remaining in the quarter.
Concordia Wisconsin finally broke through in the fourth quarter.
Freshman Emilia Rojas (Santiago, Chile) charged toward the cage and buried her opportunity in the 52nd minute to cut the Marian advantage to 2-1. Freshman Maddie Rock (Rockford, Mich.) picked up the assist on the play.
The Falcons continued to press after the goal, earning another penalty corner less than two minutes later, but the Sabres were able to hold off the CUW comeback.
Concordia Wisconsin finished the night with a 13-2 advantage in penalty corners and outshot Marian, 9-5. The Falcons also held Marian without a shot in the fourth quarter.
Robertson led the CUW attack with three shots, while Mouganis added two. Senior Parks Cawthray (Oakville, Ontario) finished with one save in the cage.
The two teams will meet again on Oct. 3 at Tomasini Stadium, when the stakes shift to Collegiate Field Hockey Conference (CFHC) play.
