NEW HAVEN, Conn. (Sept. 10, 2016) - The Molloy College field hockey team opened its inaugural season of play on the road in the unfriendly confines of Jess Dow FIeld on the campus of Southern Connecticut State University on Saturday (Sept. 10). The Lions showed heart and a competitive spirit but were done in by two early goals as the Owls reigned victorious in a 3-0 final result in New Haven.

Southern Connecticut (2-2) scored the first goal of the game in the sixth minute of play as senior forward Bailey McGinnis (North Branford, Conn.) tipped in a feed from teammate Emily Stross (Avon, Conn.) that beat keeper Arianna Ovadia (East Meadow, N.Y.) to open the scoring. McGinnis factored into the next goal for the Owls just three minutes later as she sent a pass to sophomore Kya O'Donnell (Cheshire, Conn.) that was directed past the goal line and off the wood of the net for a two-goal advantage. From there, however, the Lions settled down and played competitive defense throughout. 

Junior Jessica Holdsworth (Patchogue, N.Y.) will be the answer to the trivia question of who took Molloy's first-ever shot in a field hockey contest as the defender slid an attempt wide in the eleventh minute of the game. Fellow junior Melissa Fuerst (Selden, N.Y.) had the first shot on goal in the next minute, but SCSU goalie Brianna Craft (Hamden, Conn.) was able to make the save. On the other side of the field, Ovadia kept her cool and parried away all of the chances for the Owls in the first half except for one---teammate Alexa Guercia (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) was credited with a defensive save on a shot by Stross in the 21st minute of play. The hosts kept constant pressure on the Lions in the second half, ultimately getting a second goal from O'Donnell with ten minutes and change to play in the contest.

Molloy was outshot by Southern Connecticut by a margin of 31-10, with Fuerst and Zoe Norton (Sayville, N.Y.) each accounting for three shots and two shots on goal. Junior Kelly Saronka (Patchogue, N.Y.) had the only other shot on goal for the maroon and white as Ovadia stopped 15 shots in the effort.

Molloy will open its home schedule on Sunday (Sept. 11) with the Lions set to take on Adelphi University at Bay Park in East Rockaway, N.Y. The game is set to begin at 3 p.m.