The women's field hockey team traveled to Oneonta this weekend to face the Red Dragons in the first SUNYAC game of the year for both squads and came away with a scintillating 5-4 win.
Both teams came into the game with something to prove after struggling in nonleague play. Oneonta carried a two-game losing streak into the game after close losses to Rensselaer and Skidmore. The Lady Knights stumbled to a 1-3 record.
Geneseo jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when Jean Nolan found the net. Jean was injured in the team's opener and was held out of the last three contests. Her contribution to this game was immediate, however. The Lady Knights extended the lead to 3-0 before the Dragons scored three straight goals, tying the game at three shortly into the second half.
Sophomore Stephanie Maisonet responded with a goal to regain the lead before senior forward Sarah Doster came through for her second score of the game to put Geneseo ahead 5-3. Oneonta did not let up, cutting the margin to 5-4 with seven minutes remaining. Despite the Red Dragons' best efforts, they were unable to score an equalizer.
First-year Geneseo coach Jessica Seren was encouraged by the team's performance, but wary of the letdowns that let their opponent back into the game. "When we scored to make it 5-3 it gave us a much-needed cushion, but when they scored the fourth, the momentum switched and [junior goalie Emily O'Leary] had to make a couple key saves down the stretch to preserve the win," said Seren.
O'Leary finished with four saves to pick up her second win of the season. Seren said that though it is early in the year, she feels the sky is the limit for the Lady Knights. "I hope to finish on top of the SUNYAC division. I think it is definitely achievable, and hopefully [we] earn an at-large bid for the postseason," said Seren.
With the win, the Lady Knights improve to 2-3 overall and 1-0 in SUNYAC play.