BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Field Hockey team opened Commonwealth Coast Conference play by falling the Western New England University, 6-0, at Bayside Field on Saturday afternoon. In the loss, the Hawks were shutout for just the third time across their 27 games during the Kelly Blackhurst era.
 
The loss was the first of the season for RWU as they fall to 4-1, 0-1 against CCC opponents, while WNE improves to 2-2, 1-0 against CCC foes.
 
The Golden Bears kept the Hawks offense in check by only allowing six shots in the game while Sarah Johnston (Uxbridge, Mass.) led their offense finding the back of the net three times.
 
In goal, Callie Flanagan (Wenham, Mass.) had a rough day for RWU, she faced 17 shots and made 11 saves but also allowed six goals and, in the process, she fell to 4-1 on the year. Zoey Wexler got the nod for Western New England and she stopped all three shots she faced to improve to 1-0 on the season.
 
Hawk Highlights
Amelia Monahan: 3 shots, 1 shot on goal
Morgan Foley: 1 shot, 1 shot on goal
Shawna Ruth: 1 shot, 1 shot on goal
 
Callie Flanagan: 11 saves, 6 goals allowed, 60:00 minutes in goal
 
For The Opponents
Sarah Johnston: 3 goals (GW), 5 shots, 5 shots on goal
Ali Larochelle: 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 shots, 2 shots on goal
Carly-Anna Barba: 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 shots, 2 shots on goal
 
Zoey Wexler: 3 saves, 0 goals allowed, 60:00 minutes in goal
 
How It Happened
Over the first few minutes of play, it looked like this one would be a back-and-forth affair with a lot of action in the midfield, that lasted until the Golden Bears got on the board in the eighth minute. Sarah Johnston (Uxbridge, Mass.) received a pass from Ali Larochelle (New Boston, N.H.) and fired it into the cage for her second goal of the season.
 
WNE got another one less than 90 seconds later, in the ninth minute. After the Hawks committed a penalty inside the arch, Ali Martin (South Windsor, Conn.) received a penalty stroke and flicked one into the left side of the cage to make the score 2-0.
 
Outside of the scoring totals, the first quarter was close as WNE only outshot the Hawks 5-3, including 4-2 in shots on goal, and the teams had one penalty corner each.
 
The Golden Bears took control in the second quarter as the added another tally in the 25^th minute of action as Johnston notched her second score of the contest. Furthermore, they did not allow the Hawks to get a shot or a penalty corner attempt while they took six shots, four on cage, and four penalty corners.
 
Johnston completed her hat trick early in the third in the 33^rd minute. Carly-Anna Barba (Madison, Conn.) sent a penalty corner to Johnston how blasted it into the goal for her third of the contest and fourth of the year.
 
A few moments later, in the 39^th minute, it was Barba's turn to get in on the action. Johnston took a shot that was saved but Barba was there to clean up the mess on the rebound for her first goal of the season.
 
The Golden Bears once again limited the RWU chances in the frame taking more shots, 4-0, shots on goal, 4-0, and penalty corners, 2-0.
 
WNE wrapped up the scoring with another second-chance score in the 50^th minute. Barba took a shot this time that was saved, but Larochelle was the beneficiary, scoring her second goal of the season.
 
Overall, Western New England did well controlling the ball by recording more shots, 22-6, shots on goal, 17-3, and penalty corners, 9-1.
 
What's Next
The Hawks look to get back on track as they host Eastern Connecticut State University at Bayside Field on Wednesday for a matchup under the lights. Start time is set for 7:00 PM.