CUA rolls past Virginia Wesleyan 13-0 in opener

WASHINGTON – The Catholic University field hockey team opened its 2010 season in style on Wednesday afternoon as the Cardinals rolled past Virginia Wesleyan by a score of 13-0 at home.  Emma Dixon and Mary Swarthout scored three goals apiece for CUA, while Kendall Petschauer found the back of the cage twice and handed out three assists.

“That was the most complete and confident CUA team that I have seen in my time here,” explained Cardinals head coach Gia Cillizza afterwards.  “We had a great preseason and I thought we looked good in our scrimmages and it carried over into today.  We were strong, relentless and intense the entire game.”

Cillizza continued, “I told the girls before the game that this was a blank slate.  We were 0-0 and everything started today.  It was huge to get off to the fast start like we did.  Anytime you can score early it puts the other team on its heels.”

CUA dominated in all statistical categories, outshooting its opponent 46-0.  The Cardinals were also awarded 12 penalty corners to the Marlins’ zero.

Swarthout got things started for the Cardinals with her first goal just 1:36 into the contest.  Dixon assisted on the score as CUA took an early 1-0 lead.  Petschauer, Swarthout and Dixon each scored before the game was even ten minutes old as the Cardinals opened up a 4-0 advantage at the 9:38 mark of the opening half.

Petschauer’s score at the 12:39 mark made it a 5-0 game, while Abby Banholzer’s back-to-back goals put the home team on top by seven with less than five minutes to play in the half.  Tory Gagliardi then closed the first half scoring with her goal at the 32:03 mark to give CUA a commanding 8-0 lead at halftime.

Swarthout opened the second half by completing her hat trick when she found the back of the net less than three minutes in.  Dixon added two more scores in a span of 49 seconds and with 24 minutes to go CUA was on top 11-0.  Allison Pollock and Kaitlin Maloy then got into the scoring act as they scored goals at the 48 and 60-minute marks, respectively.

Kirsten Olsen got the start in goal for the visitors and she sent back 15 shots before giving way to Chelsea Baker who stopped 12 shots in 35 minutes of action.

Krystyanna Ramsdell played all 70 minutes in goal for CUA and earned the win.

CUA will return to action on Saturday, September 4 when the Cardinals play host to McDaniel.  Action gets underway at 1:00 from inside Cardinal Stadium.