BRISTOL, R.I. — The Roger Williams University field hockey team showcased their offensive firepower Thursday afternoon, defeating the University of Hartford, 9-3, at Bayside Field. The Hawks dominated the second quarter with six goals in 15 minutes, fueling a commanding performance that improved RWU to 12-5 overall and 4-1 in Conference of New England play.
Hawks Unleash Six-Goal Second Quarter
After a scoreless opening quarter, RWU broke through at 15:26 when first-year midfielder Reese Jefferson (Dighton, Mass.) found the back of the cage to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead. Jefferson struck again at 18:07 off an assist from senior midfielder Lexi Yost (Swansea, Mass.), before Yost added a goal of her own at 19:16, assisted by sophomore midfielder Eva Wood (Sandwich, Mass.).
The Hawks kept pouring it on. Sophomore midfielder Libby Corsetti (Arlington, Mass.) converted a penalty stroke at 20:48, and Yost scored her second of the quarter at 23:58 off a feed from senior midfielder Maddy Monahan (Bristol, N.H.). Sophomore forward Emiley Vinciguerra (Pelham, N.H.) capped the six-goal outburst at 25:23, sending RWU into halftime with a commanding 6-0 advantage.
RWU Keeps the Pressure On
Hartford responded with two goals in the third quarter, but senior forward Emma Sheldon (Suffield, Conn.) answered for the Hawks at 45:00 to make it 7-2 heading into the final period.
Jefferson completed her hat trick at 50:20, finishing off another assist from Yost to extend the lead to 8-2. First-year midfielder Mikayla Hanel (Ridgefield, Conn.) added RWU's ninth goal at 56:07 as the Hawks continued to apply pressure. Hartford added one final goal late, but RWU secured the decisive 9-3 victory.
Offensive Firepower Leads the Way
Jefferson led the Hawks with three goals, while Yost finished with two goals and two assists for six points. Sheldon, Corsetti, Vinciguerra, and Hanel also found the back of the cage as RWU recorded 48 shots and earned 18 penalty corners. Yost's four-point contribution helped fuel the Hawks' offensive surge, while the team maintained control throughout a high-scoring afternoon at Bayside Field.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Hawks will take their momentum on the road as they travel to Providence, R.I., to face Johnson & Wales in a Conference of New England matchup on Saturday, October 24, at noon.
