PROVIDENCE, R.I. – First-year
Kate Verderber scored her first collegiate goal 2:19 into the second half and senior
Emily Downing added an insurance marker late in the fourth to propel the JWU (Providence) field hockey team to a 2-0 win over Eastern Connecticut State University Tuesday night in non-conference action at the Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletic Complex.
Senior goalkeeper
Sophia Brea turned aside eight shots to preserve the clean sheet and give the Wildcats (1-0) their first-straight win over the Warriors (0-1).
Following a scoreless first half which saw the Warriors outshoot the Wildcats 10-5, Verderber grabbed a ball that was played into the box from Pontes and put the home team up by one at 32:19. Downing kept the pressure on in the minutes that followed as she rang up three more shots before the period closed.
The Wildcats put the game away late in the fourth with a late tally from Dowling with 1:02 remaining. First-year
Anjail Sooknanan found Downing with a pass and she tucked a shot inside the right post.
JWU finished with a 16-13 edge in shots and held a slim 9-8 advantage in penalty corners.
The Wildcats return to action on Saturday with a 5 p.m. contest against UMass Boston at 5 p.m. at the SMAC.
