BRISTOL, R.I. — The Roger Williams University field hockey team continued its postseason run on Saturday afternoon, earning a 2-0 shutout victory over sixth-seeded Nichols College in the first round of the Conference of New England (CNE) Tournament at Bayside Field.
With the win, the third-seeded Hawks improve to 14-6 overall and advance to the CNE Tournament Semifinals, where they will face second-seeded Western New England University.
Hawks Strike First, Take Control
Roger Williams came out aggressively, applying pressure in the attacking zone and generating several early scoring opportunities. After putting together a series of shots and penalty corners, the Hawks broke through at the 13:44 mark of the opening quarter. First-year midfielder Reese Jefferson (Dighton, Mass.) found the back of the net to give RWU a 1-0 advantage.
The Hawks continued to control possession and create opportunities throughout the second quarter, recording 13 shots while keeping Nichols off the scoreboard.
Hanel Adds Insurance as Hawks Secure Shutout
Roger Williams carried its momentum into the third quarter, adding to its lead at 39:22. First-year midfielder Mikayla Hanel (Ridgefield, Conn.) scored her goal to extend the Hawks' advantage to 2-0.
The RWU defense remained strong throughout the fourth quarter, limiting Nichols to just one shot in the contest. Junior goalkeeper Meili Raspante (Cotuit, Mass.) recorded one save to secure the shutout as the Hawks closed out the 2-0 win
Roger Williams finished with a commanding 34-1 advantage in shots and held a 12-0 edge in penalty corners.
What's Next?
The Hawks advance to the CNE Tournament Semifinals and will travel to Springfield, Mass., to take on second-seeded Western New England University on Wednesday, November 4, at 7:00 p.m.
