WASHINGTON, D.C. -  The Catholic University field hockey team was dominant on Wednesday evening as they put five goals past the visiting Blue Jays from Elizabethtown. The team improved 8-4 on the season and 4-1 in the Landmark Conference after the win.

The first quarter proved to be just a warmup for the Cardinals. They were well in command, firing six shots and earning three penalty corners in the opening 15 minutes, but could not find the breakthrough in the opening stanza.

Opportunities were converted into goals in the second quarter with Catholic finding the back of the cage three times thanks to a pair of goals from Mary Parker and another by Carly Bateman. 

Bateman got the scoring started with a brilliant individual play down the right sideline. She used a quick dodge to skirt around her defender before lifting the ball past the goalkeeper's right shoulder. Three minutes later, great teamwork and deliberate passing from the offense allowed Niki Micciche to notch an assist for Parker's first goal of the evening. Parker's second goal came after a shot by Mickey Bond was kicked by opponent Angelina Giglio-Tos and remained in the area, allowing Parker to capitalize on the rebound. 

Bond and Allison Flynn joined the scoring party after halftime, both securing their first goal of the season. Catholic took full advantage of their women-up opportunity after a green card was issued to Elizabethtown's Chloe Smith. The Cardinals maintained possession in the arc for the entire penalty time and created an opening for Emma Shallow to feed Bond at the back post. 

Not long after Bond converted, Flynn showed some shifty stick work in the arc to better Catholic's advantage to 5-0.

Meredith Cannon and Keara Lawless, two freshman on Rachel Palumbo's squad, made their collegiate debut in tonight's contest. Devon Lasky, Lily Botta, Emilia Lieb, Abagail Nooney, Nancy McGettigan, and Bella Reyes also saw game action off the bench in the team victory. 

The Cardinals have now held opposing teams scoreless five times this season, three of which have come against conference opponents. The team will look to continue this trend in their five remaining regular season contests.

Catholic's next challenge will be against a new conference opponent Lycoming. The start time is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 14 in Williamsport, Pa.