SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – First-year
Molly Halliday scored the first two goals of her collegiate career and senior
Sophie Ruhl added a goal and an assist to lead the Union College field hockey team to a 3-0 victory over Russell Sage College on Saturday afternoon at Frank Bailey Field at Bertagna-Class of 1985 Stadium.
Union (1-1) dominated all facets of play on Saturday, posting a commanding 23-1 edge in shots and taking 17 penalty corners to Sage's two. The Union defense held the Gators without a shot for the final 46:23 of the contest, during which time 20 attempts went toward the opposing net.
The home team started the pressure almost immediately, as Ruhl made a nice move down the left side in the opening minute and nearly had a goal if not for a defensive save by Eve Tonks that kept Union off the board. The Garnet Chargers had a 3-1 edge in shots over the scoreless opening 15 minutes.
Union remained in control in the second stanza, outshooting Russell Sage 10-0. The home team eventually struck first with 6:26 remaining in the period, when Halliday corralled a pass into the crease by Ruhl and poked it home for her first college goal.
The second half followed a similar script, as Union possessed the ball almost exclusively in the offensive end and eventually wore down the Gator defense with a pair of tallies. Ruhl made it a two-goal lead 9:53 into the third period with a long-distance strike that found its way through traffic into the net. Halliday completed the scoring 2:03 into the fourth frame, depositing a feed from classmate
Brooke Spiegel for her second goal of the game and Spiegel's first collegiate point.
The tandem of sophomore
Sophie Brady and first-year
Marion Stuntz split time in goal for Union, with Brady needing to make just one first-half stop to preserve the shutout. Jaia Caron had an excellent game to keep Russell Sage close, making several stellar saves and finishing the day with 14 stops.
Union will return to action next Saturday with a 1 p.m. game against Ramapo College of New Jersey at Frank Bailey Field at Bertagna-Class of 1985 Stadium.
