WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Catholic field hockey team faced off against the No. 25 TCNJ on Wednesday evening in their season opener at Cardinal Stadium. The Cardinals battled hard at against the nationally-ranked Lions, forcing them into two overtime periods, where they ultimately fell, 2-1.
Catholic's
Elsa Turner opened the offense, taking the first shot of the game, trying to sneak one past the goalkeeper's pads. The Lions responded with the first penalty corner of the game, and their first shot that came from Jadyn Huff at the top of the circle. Huff's shot was saved by Lowman, marking her first career save.
With less than two minutes in the quarter, Catholic earned their first corner.
Bella Reyes inserted, sending the ball to
Caroline Cristella, but the Cardinals were unable to capitalize, and the game was scoreless heading into the second quarter.
The Lions quickly found their groove in the second quarter, earning a penalty quarter just 90 seconds in. Prisha Dhruve inserted, passing to Rachael Tetzlaff who took a shot. TCNJ was then awarded a penalty stroke which was taken by Huff who was able to find the top left corner of the goal to put the Lions on the board.
TCNJ continued to maintain the advantage as the clock ran out, leading 1-0 heading into the second half.
The Cardinals continued to look for opportunities to even the score early in the second half. In the seventh minute of the half, Catholic earned a penalty corner that was quickly followed by four more as they kept pressing for the equalizer. TCNJ fought for possession with less than five minutes on the clock, but neither team scored, and the game remained 1-0 heading into the final quarter of regulation.
Catholic stayed in the battle in the fourth, maintaining a strong presence on their home turf. The Cardinal defense held strong, holding the Lions to just a lone goal, and consistently stopping them across the field.
With eight minutes remaining in regulation, Catholic was awarded another penalty corner, their eighth of the game.
Tess Hake was the inserter, passing to
Katie Flynn who swept it over to
Lauren Keast. From there, Keast passed to an open Cristella who put the Cardinals on the board with her first career goal.
Both teams held strong, forcing an overtime with a tied score of 1-1.
The energy was high heading into the first overtime from both ends of the field. TCNJ was awarded the first penalty corner, but each defense stayed in the fight, and the score remained at a 1-1 stalemate as time ran out.
The Cardinals and the Lions squabbled in the circle in the second overtime, where Jillian Tetzlaff shot twice, and Cristella and
Sophia Sullivan earned defensive saves off her shots.
It was TCNJ's Huff that solidified the 2-0 victory with her second goal of the game, sneaking past the Cardinal defense and finding the back of the goal.
Camryn Lowman made her first career start in goal. She previously made her collegiate debut in 2025 in a conference match up against Wilkes. Lowman recorded 10 saves in the meeting against the Lions.
Catholic had a standout third quarter, taking five shots and five penalty corners. They finished the meeting with seven total shots from seven different players including Cristella, Hake, Keast, Turner,
Annalise Kubasko,
Anna Cusumano,
Maddie Pennisi. The Cardinals also had nine penalty corners to the Lions' six.
Up next, the Cardinals will head to Ashland, Va. for another non-conference match up against Randolph-Macon. The game is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Nunnally Field.
