WORCESTER, Mass. – The Wesleyan field hockey team suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of WPI in a non-conference match to open the 2022 season on Tuesday night. Georgia Adams '26 scored for Wesleyan in her first career game but the Engineers were able to score twice early in the fourth quarter to pull off a come-from-behind victory.
 
Following a scoreless first quarter that featured Wesleyan accounting for all three shots in the opening frame, the Cardinals got out on the front foot with a goal 4:20 into the second. Diana Schwarz '23 laid a pass off to Adams who chipped a shot in on the right side the goal, making it 1-0 Cardinals.
 
Wesleyan continued to dominate the opening half as the Cardinals fired four shots in the second quarter, outshooting WPI 7-0 in the first half while generating two penalty corners compared to none for the Engineers.
 
WPI, however, bounced back in the second half as the shot total swayed in favor of the Engineers 3-0 in the third while the penalty corners also sided with the home team 4-0. Despite the pressure, Wesleyan kept hold of the lead up until the fourth as Lauren Meinhold evened the contest just 24 seconds into the final quarter. Meinhold blasted a shot from the top of the circle that took a deflection off a Cardinal defender and into the back of the goal.
 
Abbey Powers then pushed WPI into the lead as she knocked in a rebound after an initial attempt from Eliza Dutson was saved by Cardinal goalkeeper Audrey Pace '26.
 
Wesleyan pushed for an equalizer late on as the Cardinals generated all the remaining scoring chances including shots on-target from Adams and Schwarz but both were turned away by WPI goalkeeper Nini Acquista.
 
The Cardinals outshot WPI 10-7 for the game but the Engineers held a 5-3 advantage in shots on-goal. Pace made three saves while playing all 60 minutes in her collegiate debut.
 
Wesleyan looks to bounce back at home on Saturday as the Cardinals welcome Colby to Smith Field for a 12:00 PM start.