NEW HAVEN, Conn. – After missing the team's first eight games of the season, Towson University field hockey junior Katie McNeel made her season debut Friday and scored her first career goal as the Tigers fell in a nonconference contest against Sacred Heart at Yale's Johnson Field.
 
How It Happened

• Sacred Heart (3-5) struck early, scoring less than five minutes into the game off its fourth shot and third penalty corner as Allie Brouhard knocked home a rebound after Nichole Tolli's first shot was saved by senior Emilee Woodall.
• The Pioneers added another goal with just over 15 minutes remaining in the first half when Kelsy Hopkins scored off an assist from Tolli.
• Ten minutes later, Tolli had a penalty stroke that was saved by Woodall to keep the Sacred Heart lead at 2-0.
• Trailing by two, McNeel registered the first shot of the game for Towson (0-9) off a penalty corner that was saved by Emily Degennaro just over 11 minutes into the second half.
• After a yellow card was issued to freshman Daniella DeSouza, the Tigers appeared to cut their deficit in half on a goal by senior Morgan Lowry off a penalty corner. However, the goal was disallowed after the officials ruled that the shot was taken outside of the circle and was not touched before entering the cage.
• A few minutes later, Sacred Heart struck for the third time of its 11th penalty corner of the game. The goal capped a stretch of three goals in a span of 4:45.
• Two minutes after that, McNeel officially got Towson on the board off a penalty corner with an assist to sophomore Paige Zaleppa before the Pioneers finished the scoring 2:44 later off a rebound by Bridget LaRicca.
• Sacred Heart outshot the Tigers 17-3 and held a 15-5 advantage in penalty corners.
• Woodall finished the game with nine saves.

Inside the Numbers

• Friday marked Towson's first game in the state of Connecticut since 2012 against Sacred Heart. The Tigers are now 2-3 all-time in the Constitution State: Sacred Heart (1-2), Fairfield (1-0), Quinnipiac (0-1).
• Woodall, the nation's leader in saves per game, is now just eight saves shy of 500 for her career. She is the Division I active career leader in saves with 492.
• Towson has started at least five freshman in every game this season.

Up Next

• Towson travels to LIU Brooklyn on Sunday for a noon match-up with the Blackbirds at LIU Field.
• The Tigers won last year's inaugural meeting between the two teams, 3-1.