STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – The Yale field hockey team outshot Wagner 10-9 and had a 9-7 advantage in penalty corners Friday afternoon at the Wagner College Field Hockey Complex, but the Seahawks got five saves from goalie Daisy Ruhle and a defensive save from back Esmée van der Sande to come away with a 2-1 victory over the Bulldogs. This was the season opener for Yale, and its first game with
Melissa Gonzalez as the team's Caroline Ruth Thompson '02 Head Coach of Field Hockey.
Yale (0-1, 0-0 Ivy League) fell behind early as Wagner forward Kira Mordvinov redirected a pass from midfielder/forward Julia Cruces Pastorino for a goal at 6:36.
The Bulldogs responded early in the second quarter, with junior forward/midfielder
Ashley Kim scoring the first goal of the season. But on a penalty corner just over two minutes later forward Laura van Hamburg gave Wagner a 2-1 lead, and that was enough for Ruhle and the Seahawks defense.
Yale had three penalty corners with just over two minutes to play, but two saves by Ruhle and one shot that went wide helped Wagner (2-0, 0-0 NEC) preserve the lead.
Junior goalkeeper
Luanna Summer made three saves for the Bulldogs.
"Today was a great opportunity for us to compete," said Gonzalez. "Wagner capitalized and competed for 60 minutes. We had moments on both sides of the ball and in transition. As we look ahead we need to put together a full 60 minute game. As a group we will learn, grow, get better and move forward as we head into our next game against Hofstra."
Yale plays at Hofstra Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
