Field Hockey Handed Tough-Luck Loss in 2023 Season Opener Friday Night, 1-0

DANBURY, Conn. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) field hockey team was shutout in a tough-luck loss, 1-0, Friday night at The Westside Athletic Complex in its 2023 season opener on the road at intrastate non-conference opponent Western Connecticut State University (WCSU). Despite controlling much of the possession and dominating the box score, the Blue Jays drop to 0-1 to start the season while the Wolves open their new campaign 1-0.

KEY MOMENTS

• It was a defensive battle throughout the first half by both teams. The Blue Jays didn't allow the Wolves to get a single shot off over the opening 30 minutes of play, while USJ fired three first-half shots, but couldn't sneak one past WCSU's senior goalkeeper Kayla Hnasko (Raritan, N.J.).
• The Blue Jays kept the pressure on to start the second half as sophomore Ariana Komonaj (Thomaston, Conn.) opened the third period with a backhanded shot on goal at the 32:01 mark, but it was once again denied nicely by Hnasko to keep the game scoreless.
• The Wolves rewarded their goalkeeper just 36 seconds later and found the back of the net on their very first shot of the game. After the Blue Jays lost possession near midfield, WCSU played a long pass forward that ricocheted off a USJ defender's stick. Sophomore forward Reagan Schoen (Newtown, Conn.) was there to collect the deflection for the Wolves and charged toward goal in a two-on-one situation. Schoen elected to keep the ball, took a touch to her right, and rifled a shot past USJ's senior goalkeeper Wendy Bowden (Old Saybrook, Conn.), to make it 1-0 and provide what would stand as the game-winning goal.
• The Blue Jays nearly netted the equalizer with four minutes remaining in regulation. USJ's junior forward Maya Tomko (Sparta, N.J.) took a nifty feed from Komonaj and the Blue Jays had a two-on-one situation of their own. Tomko blasted a close-range shot, but the effort was turned aside by Hnasko once again with a game-saving kick save.

NOTES

• The Blue Jays outshot the Wolves overall, 7-3, including 6-2 in shots on goal.
• Komonaj paced USJ's offense with a game-high four shots, including three shots on goal.
• USJ also held a slight advantage in penalty corners in the contest, 6-3.
• Bowden was dealt the tough-luck loss (0-1) in goal for the Blue Jays. She faced two shots on goal and made one save.
• Hnasko picked up the season-opening win (1-0) between the posts for WCSU and finished with six big-time saves.
• It marked the second meeting all-time between the two programs with the Wolves now owning a 2-0 edge in the intrastate series. WCSU previously defeated USJ, 2-1, in the first meeting on September 3, 2022 in West Hartford.

UP NEXT

Field hockey will look to bounce back when it plays next on Wednesday, September 6 in its home opener, welcoming non-conference opponent Salem State University to the USJ Field Hockey Field. The action between the Blue Jays and Vikings is set to get underway at 6:00 p.m. in West Hartford, Conn.

FOLLOW
For the latest on University of Saint Joseph Athletics, follow the Blue Jays on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Fans can also download the USJ Front Row Mobile App and subscribe to our Newsletter and Text Alerts. #FearTheFlock #GoBlueJays