Buffalo, N.Y.- The field hockey team kicked off the 2025 campaign with a 1-0 win over D'Youville this evening at Dobson Field. Molloy improved to 1-0 on the season while the Saints fell to 0-1.

How it Happened

• Senior Nikki Longhitano recorded the first shot of the match seven minutes in, but it was blocked by a Saints defender.
• Three minutes later, senior Catherine Amini sent an attempt wide of the cage.
• D'Youville had back-to-back corner opportunities, but sophomore goalkeeper Kayla Balsamo came up with a save to keep the game scoreless after the opening quarter.
• In the second frame, junior Farah Amarando fired off two shots in quick succession, both blocked by the Saints' defense.
• Off Molloy's third corner of the contest, Longhitano had another scoring opportunity, but Saints goalkeeper Sarah Reifsnyder was there to make the save.
• Amarando opened the second half with a shot in the first three minutes before Chloe Buckhard made a defensive save on a shot attempt from senior Gianna Mastrocco.
• Mastrocco quickly fired off a second shot that found the back of the net, breaking the stalemate and putting the Lions on the board.
• Longhitano nearly doubled the lead in the 53rd minute, but Reifsnyder came up with another stop.
• The Saints made one final push in the closing two minutes, with Olivia McClaine getting a shot off, but the Lions' defense came up with the block to secure the 1-0 shutout.

Top Performances

• Mastrocco scored the lone goal of the contest and tallied another shot on goal.
• Longhitano had a career-high three shots, two of which were on net.
• Balsamo earned her second career shutout in goal.
• Amarando matched a career-high three shots, including one on target.
• Amini fired off one shot.
• The Lions outshot the Saints 9-4 on the contest.

Up Next
The Lions travel to Roberts Wesleyan on Sunday (Sept. 7) for a 1:00 p.m. match up from Rochester, N.Y..