
Sparkill, N.Y. - Despite a late surge, the St. Thomas Aquinas College Field Hockey team came up short on its comeback attempt, falling 3-2 to Molloy University on Tuesday afternoon at Spartan Field.
STAC falls to 4-13 overall and 3-9 within the NE10, while Molloy moves to 3-13 and 2-10. The victory by the Lions is the first against the Spartans since October 20, 2018, snapping a four-match winning streak for the maroon and gold.
Gianna Mastrocco tallied a pair of goals for Molloy, while Devin Harkins' insurance goal late in the fourth quarter became the eventual game winner. In the cage, Kayla Balsamo (W, 2-6) allowed two goals on seven total shots.
For St. Thomas Aquinas, Nicola Van Vuuren and Hailey Galison found the back of the net with a goal apiece, as goalkeeper Ailsa Ogilvie (L, 1-6) stopped nine of 12 shots in a losing effort.
How it Happened
- STAC got the scoring started in the first quarter, as Nicola Van Vuuren took a penalty corner insert from teammate Hailey Galison and ripped off a shot on the cage that was stopped by Kayla Balsamo. A subsequent loose rebound was gathered by Van Vuuren and put home to make it 1-0.
- Another penalty corner, this one by Molloy, was inserted to Devin Harkins who put a shot on target which was stopped by Ailsa Ogilvie. Gianna Mastrocco corralled the rebound and sent another shot to the back of the net to tie the match at 1-1.
- An offensive rush by the Lions allowed a shot to get to the front of the net, reaching the stick of Molly Walton for a quick feed to Mastrocco for the tap past Ogilvie for her second of the day, making it 2-1 in favor of the visitors.
- Molloy's insurance goal and eventual game winning tally came via Devin Harkins' penalty stroke opportunity. Harkins sent a low, rising shot past Ogilvie to make it 3-1 with nine minutes to play in the contest.
- Moments later, a penalty corner insert by Hailey Galison found the stick of Phileine Langeveld, who then sent a pass over to Madelyn Verstraten. Seeing Galison break to the left post, Verstraten slipped a feed to her for the easy tap-in goal to cut the Spartans' deficit to 3-2.
Inside the Box Score
- St. Thomas Aquinas and Molloy recorded 12 total shots apiece in the match, with the Lions getting the edge in shots on goal over the Spartans, 12-7.
- Nicola Van Vuuren led all offensive players with seven total shots, three of which made it to the cage.
- Van Vuuren tallied her ninth goal of the season, while Hailey Galison scored her sixth of the year.
- The Lions earned a 13-7 penalty corners advantage over the Spartans.
Up Next
STAC wraps up its 2024 schedule, visiting Southern New Hampshire University on Saturday, November 2. The Spartans and Penmen will square off inside of Dr. George J. Larkin Field in Manchester, New Hampshire at 1:00 p.m.