Field Hockey Sets School Record in 3-2 Victory vs. Immaculata

(box score)

Widener opened a three-goal lead early in the second half and held on for its fifth straight opening-day win, 3-2 over Immaculata at Edith R. Dixon Field.

Most of the first half was a struggle for control, until the Pride (1-0) opened the scoring in the 31st minute. Sophomore Meghan Garvey (Avondale, PA) deflected a pass over to senior Devon Biglin (Ocean City, NJ), who re-directed it home for her sixth career goal.

Widener stayed on the attack and doubled its lead 30 seconds later. This time it was senior Samantha Balonis (Northumberland, PA) who fired the pass as her cross from the right wing was directed in by Garvey.

Garvey then added another in the 49th minute, taking a great feed from junior Mackenzie Lindquist (Ocean City, NJ) and scoring to make it 3-0. It was the 16th career goal for the Honorable Mention All-Commonwealth Conference pick from last season, which now puts her in a tie for 11th in school history.

Immaculata (0-1) did not go away as it got one back in the 52nd minute. Tiffany Lockfeld threw a pass in front off a corner and Natalie Rivera tallied for a 3-1 deficit.

The Mighty Macs closed to 3-2 in the 59th minute. Rivera took an initial shot that was saved and Patsy Murphy was there on the follow to make it a one-goal contest.

Widener's defense then cranked it up in the final minute. Senior Hannah Dinsmore (Wayne, PA) knocked away a long pass 30 yards from the cage and junior Maggie Karmeris (Wilmington, DE) kicked away a pass just seconds later.

The win broke the team mark for most consecutive opening day victories, which the squad previously shared with the units from 1991-94.

Karmeris needed to just make two saves for the Pride, who closed with a 13-4 shots edge. Christine McIntyre and Sarah Pasternak totaled three saves apiece for the Mighty Macs.

"We had a great beginning, the middle was a little rough, but we finished well with the win," Widenr coach Larissa Gillespie said. "We played well for the first game and I saw some nice things to build from."

Widener returns home Wednesday to face Neumann, starting at 7:00 pm.

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