MADISON, N.J. - Catholic scored a pair of goal in the first 5:30 of the contest on Saturday afternoon as the team earned a 2-0 victory at Drew to improve to 7-4 on the season and 3-1 in Landmark Conference play.
The Cardinals out shot the Rangers 30-4 in the contest and 15-2 in shots on goal, but Drew goalkeeper Olyvia Jackson was stout, making 11 saves in the contest.
Abigail Kearney picked up the win with her fourth shutout of the season and second consecutive. 2022 All-Landmark First Teame selection
Gracie Burford made her fifth defensive save of the season and third in the last three games to lead the Catholic defensive effort.
Mary Rojack and
Lauren D'Emilio were the goalscorers for Catholic with Rojack converting a penalty stroke for her fourth goal of the season while D'Emilio put one in the back of the cage for the second straight game off an assist from
Mary Parker. Parker now has five assists on the season to lead Catholic.
Just over 2:30 into the contest,
Emma Shallow played it long towards the Drew goal.
Niki Micciche put a shot on target in the box, leading to a save and a scrum that resulted in Catholic's penalty stroke opportunity. Rojack stepped up confidently, sent it low and into the bottom left corner of the cage past Jackson to put Catholic ahead 1-0.
Just over five minutes into the first quarter, Catholic struck again with strong buildup play. Parker brought the ball up the right sideline, beat a defender, and played it back into the middle. D'Emilio was there and scored in nearly the same exact spot as Rojack to give Catholic a 2-0 lead just like that.
Catholic dominated the second period, tallying four shots on goal, earning five penalty corners, and dominating possession, but Jackson made four saves and kept the score at 2-0. The third quarter was much of the same before Drew started to put some pressure on the Catholic defense in the fourth.
Drew earned a penalty corner just under seven minutes into the fourth period and send a shot wide left before Janelle Arch forced Kearney's lone save of the game with just over seven minutes remaining. With 7:02 to go, Lauren Cagliostro fired a shot off of a penalty corner, but Burford had the right side of the cage well protected to earn the defensive save and keep the shutout in tact. One final Drew chance with 90 seconds remaining was sent wide and Catholic closed out the win.
Rachel Palumbo's squad will return home to host Elizabethtown on Wednesday for Faculty & Staff Appreciation Night. The Cardinals currently sit third in the conference behind Scranton and Susquehanna who each sit at 4-0.
