LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. - Sometimes time off can be a good thing. With eight days to prepare for its home opener, the Siena Field Hockey team made the most of it. Freshman Michaela Sullivan scored her first career goal in the waning minutes and classmate Beth Meyers made it stand up in the cage as the Saints' shutout Holy Cross 1-0.
Playing in their first career home games, Sullivan and Meyers provided all the punch the Saints (1-3) would need.
In a contest that lacked sustained offensive action, Meyers was assertive in goal and made six saves to record her first career shutout and victory. The shutout was the Saints' first in three years, dating back to a 1-0 victory over Fairfield on Oct. 12, 2007.
"Beth not only had the shutout, but she had some very nice saves and clears," noted head coach Bill Davidson. "Her decision making was much improved and a positive sign going forward."
"We have been working on our midfields and forwards taking the ball aggressively towards the circle and it seems as though it paid off. We finally got some chances towards the end of the game and thankfully we were able to capitalize with a young freshman getting on the end of what was the winning goal."
Holy Cross (0-3) picked up the pace in the second half and peppered Meyers with a few good chances in the circle but could never come through. That gave Sullivan and the Saints the chance to win the game in the final minutes.
With 8:37 remaining, Olivia Whelly broke down the right side and fired a shot off the pads of Crusaders' goalie Kelly Sotsky. The rebound came out to Cory dela Gorgendiere who fired a shot high off Sotsky that trickled behind her into traffic. Sullivan was there to push it in off a defenders' stick to record her first career goal, a game-winner.
"It felt really good," said Sullivan. "It was so exciting and such a relief to come through with the winning goal."
"We have been working on our midfields and forwards taking the ball aggressively towards the circle and it seems as though it paid off," added Davidson. "We finally got some chances towards the end of the game and thankfully we were able to capitalize with a young freshman getting on the end of what was the winning goal."
Holy Cross out-shot Siena 12-7 and registered 10 corners to the Saints' three. Sotsky made three saves in the defeat, while Kara Gonnerman and Alanna Sikorski each posted four shots.
The Saints look to make it two straight when they return to action Sunday at Fairfield. Game time is 1 p.m.
