CLINTON, N.Y. – Hamilton's Evelyn Butorac scored the go-ahead, game-winning goal with 7:54 remaining to hand the No. 24 ranked Continentals a 2-1 win over No. 15 Wesleyan field hockey on Saturday afternoon from Goodfriend Field. Wesleyan's first defeat of 2024 sends the Cardinals to 3-1 (0-1 NESCAC) while Hamilton improves to 2-2 (1-1 NESCAC).
 
With very little separating the two sides, the Butorac goal came with a bit of good fortunate as Sydney Familo ripped the ball from just over midfield off a restart. As Kiernan McColgan '26 looked to play the ball, the ball skipped off the turf and into the circle where Butorac was waiting. She made one touch and fired a rocket shot past Audrey Pace '26 and inside the right post.
 
Wesleyan did all they could down the stretch, including pulling Pace for an extra field player with over 2:30 remaining, but to no avail as Hamilton's defense held the Cardinals without a shot after Butorac's go-ahead goal.
 
Hamilton jumped out to an early 1-0 lead less than two minutes into play off a penalty corner. Claire Tratnyek won the ball from Helen Deretchin '25, who was trying to clear the ball out of the circle, and put home the first goal just 1:51 into the game.
 
The Cardinals very nearly tied the game just over two minutes later on their first penalty corner as Annabel Cincotta '25 saw her shot from in close saved off the line by a Continental defender and Deretchin did all she could to shield off defenders and bury the rebound, but the ball hit her leg in the scramble and the whistle was blown for a foul.
 
Pressure on the ball deep in the Hamilton end right off the opening whistle of the second quarter led to a turnover and Ava Galdenzie '24 mini breakaway on cage, but her attempt was thwarted by Abby Griffin in goal for Hamilton.
 
Wesleyan's pressure finally paid off late in the second quarter as Deretchin worked the ball off a Continental defender just inside the Continentals' defensive circle. Wasting no time with the ball, Deretchin wound up a backhanded attempt with power that slid home inside the right post to knot the score at 1-1 heading into halftime.
 
The two sides managed just three shots in the third quarter and only seven combined attempts in the final 30 minutes of play, but Butorac made the most of the limited chances with the game-deciding goal.
 
Wesleyan had 10 shots in the contest compared to nine for Hamilton. Pace and Griffin made five saves each in net. The Cardinals generated five penalty corners compared to four for the Continentals. Deretchin's goal is her first of the season and 13^th of her career.
 
The Cardinals look to bounce back on Tuesday night with a trip to Roger Williams for a non-conference game that'll begin at 7 PM.