Vikings Notch First Win of Season on the Road

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Salem State field hockey traveled to Connecticut this evening to take on the Blue Jays of the University of Saint Joseph for a non-conference bout. After sixty minutes of action, the Vikings were able to take home the 2-1 victory over the Blue Jays to notch their first win on the young season.

Nine minutes into the game the Blue Jays looked to capitalize on back-to-back penalty corners, but the Vikings' defense was able to swart any chance they had at gaining an early lead. The remaining five minutes of the opening stanza would be played in the middle of the field as neither team was able to put pressure on goal to enter the next quarter in a stalemate.

Kaia Hollingsworth (Methuen, Mass.) ended the stalemate five minutes into the second when she was able to convert a pass from teammate, Ashley Yebba (Everett, Mass.), to give her team the slight 1-0 edge and notch the Vikings' first goal of the season. Shortly after, Saint Joe's looked to answer but freshman goalkeeper, Izzy Mosley (Middleborough, Mass.), denied their chance to even the score. In the closing minutes of the half, Salem State was able to build on their lead after Claire Fallica (Acton, Mass.) netted one of her own to give the Vikings a two-goal lead to head into the break. 

Saint Joe's held possession for a majority of the third as they attempted six penalty corners to Salems' one, but the Vikings' defense and another Mosley save was able to keep their two-goal cushion intact to enter the final fifteen minutes of play.

Mosley tacked on two more saves in the fourth quarter before Gabriella Borusso (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) made it a one-goal game after she snuck the ball past Mosley to bring the score to 2-1 with under two minutes to play. Unfortunately for the home team, the comeback would be too little too late as the horn sounded a minute later to solidify the 2-1 victory for the Vikings.