Sparkill, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Field Hockey team earned its first win of the season on Tuesday afternoon, taking down American International College, 3-0 in the team's 2022 home opener at Spartan Field. The Spartans were led by goals from Kelly Johnson and Nicola Van Vuuren in the contest, with Jessie Hohenstein securing the shutout in goal.
STAC improves to 1-1 on the year, while AIC loses its season opener and falls to 0-1.
St. Thomas Aquinas controlled much of the play, as they out shot the Yellow Jackets 16-5 and had an 11-4 advantage in penalty corners. Hohenstein made three saves in earning the shutout.
The Spartans struck first late in the opening quarter. Nicola Van Vuuren made a cross-crease pass and found the stick of teammate Kelly Johnson, who corralled the ball and fired it home for a 1-0 lead.
After two scoreless periods of action, STAC's second goal came off of a ball sent to the cage, where this time Johnson found a wide open Van Vuuren, who rifled a shot past AIC goalie Taylor Wildes to double the maroon and gold advantage.
Kelly Johnson's second goal of the match came in impressive fashion late in the final seconds of the match. As STAC was protecting their two-goal lead, Nicola Van Vuuren made another cross-crease laser pass, finding a diving Johnson who poked the ball into the back of the cage to seal the Spartans victory at 3-0.
STAC Highlights and Game Notes
- Kelly Johnson tallied the first two goals of her collegiate career on Tuesday.
- Nicola Van Vuuren's goal in the match is the sixth of her Spartan career.
- Jessie Hohenstein (W, 1-1) picked up her second career shutout as a member of the St. Thomas Aquinas College Field Hockey team.
- STAC's 16 total shots in the contest came from Hailey Galison (1), Jasmijn Van Drunen (3), Sam Van Der Valk (2), Van Vuuren (2), Johnson (6) and Olivia Cerbo (2).
- Freshman Floortje Beune was credited with a second quarter defensive save, stopping a shot from entering the Spartan cage with her stick as the ball got to the goal line.
Up Next
STAC returns to action on Friday, September 16 (4:00 p.m.) against Lindenwood University (MO) at Spartan Field.