WASHINGTON, D.C. – Catholic field hockey's magical opening weekend continued on Sunday afternoon as the Cardinals defeated their second ranked opponent in as many games, knocking off No. 3 Rowan, 2-1.
 
Catholic defeated No. 11 TCNJ on Friday for the first time in program history before taking down the Profs for the first time since 2017.
 
Niki Micciche struck the first blow, deflecting a ball past Rowan goalkeeper Aida Ingram just 3:26 into the contest. Micciche found herself in the right place at the right time and just got enough on the ball to keep it rolling past the scrambling Ingram and into the back of the cage.
 
The contest remained a battle, especially in the midfield, as the teams traded possession and continued to thwart any true attacking chances.
 
Ingram and Abigail Kearney each made one save in the second period, sending Catholic into the intermission with a 1-0 advantage.
 
The Profs turned up the pressure on the Cardinals in the third, taking nine shots and earning five penalty corners, but Kearney made three saves in the period and fifth-year defender Gracie Burford made a crucial defensive save on a shot from Grace Fenton late in the third. Catholic's lone look in the period was a Lauren D'Emilio shot that Ingram saved.
 
The Cardinals struck again early in the fourth, as Caputo put the game-winner home just under four minutes into the final period. After earning a penalty corner, Mary Parker put a shot on net, forcing a save, but Micciche redirected the ball to Caputo who beat Ingram to give Catholic a two-goal cushion.
 
Rowan turned up the hear once again, taking five shots in a six-minute stretch to push and pull the Catholic defense. The Profs finally struck with 1:51 on the clock as Sidney Pavlishin got an opening and scored to cut the deficit to one.
 
The Cardinals held off the Profs for the final 1:51 and secured a 2-1 victory for the second straight contest.
 
Catholic will host Randolph-Macon on Wednesday night at 6 p.m. at Cardinal Stadium.