Wesleyan University

HARTFORD, Conn. – The No. 13 ranked Wesleyan field hockey team scored early and often in a 5-1 win over in-state NESCAC foe Trinity on Wednesday night. The Cardinals (5-2, 2-2 NESCAC) win their second straight NESCAC game while scoring their most goals against Trinity (5-4, 1-4 NESCAC) in 54 all-time meetings with the Bantams.

The primary playmaker throughout the night for the Cardinals was Emily Smith '29 who scored or assisted on four of the five goals. Smith assisted on the first two Wesleyan goals before assisting on another late in the third quarter before netting a goal 38 seconds into the fourth quarter. The five-point game for Smith is a career-high while she is just the fourth Cardinal to dish out three assists in a game since 2011.
 
Wesleyan opened the scoring less than five minutes into play as Trinity paid the price on a turnover in their defensive end. Teddy Tolbert '28 dished to Smith who dribbled past a defender before chipping a centering pass to the far post where Leila Feldman '28 swept in her first goal of the season.
 
Just under five minutes later, after denying Trinity on the first penalty corner of the game, Wesleyan quickly moved the ball past midfield on Brooke Miner's '28 stick. Smith later possessed deep in the Trinity circle before, much like the first Wesleyan goal, chipping a centering pass, this time to Bridget FitzGerald '30 at the far post to make it 2-0 Wesleyan less than 10 minutes into play.
 
Heavy pressure in front of cage led to another first half goal for the Cardinals midway through the second quarter. Smith lifted a shot attempt that was saved off the line by Trinity defender Fiona Murphy. The loose ball was centered for Tolbert at the near post who had an initial attempt blocked but the rebound bounced back out towards the wing. With her back to goal, Tolbert took a swing at the loose ball, lifting it off the turf and into the back of the net.
 
Trinity pulled one goal back late in the second quarter off a penalty corner as Tatum Stickney inserted to Alison Gerber on the left wing. Gerber sent a pass back to Stickney at the left post who snuck a shot past Keira O'Flynn '29 at the near post.
 
Despite that late Trinity goal to end the first half, the Cardinals snuffed out any comeback bid with a dominant third quarter. In that period, Wesleyan outshot Trinity 5-0 and restored a three-goal lead with less than a minute left in the period. Meera Patel '29 chipped a pass to Smith at midfield who had yards of open space in front of her. Smith carried into the circle before chipping a pass that bounced once right in front of goal to FitzGerald at the far post. FitzGerald got enough on the shot to beat a sprawling Trinity goalkeeper as her second goal of the night made it 4-1 Wesleyan.
 
Smith completed her night with a goal just 28 seconds into the fourth quarter. Miner started the sequence with a strong pass to Emilia Napolitano '29 who centered to Smith. Smith made one move past a defender, carrying into the circle before firing a rocket inside the left post to complete her five-point night and finish off the 5-1 win.
 
Shots favored Wesleyan 17-4 (13-2 shots on goal) in the game and by a 7-1 margin in the second half. Penalty corners finished even at 3-3 while all five Wesleyan goals were scored in open play. FitzGerald registered her first career multi-goal game while she's now tied with Tolbert and Natalie Shaw '28 for the team-lead in goals with three on the year.
 
Wesleyan heads back on the road for a Saturday clash against No. 11 Hamilton before starting a five-game homestand next week on Wednesday against Union.