HOUGHTON, NY – The Alfred University field hockey team started its program history with, despite a strong defensive effort for the first three quarters of play, a 5-0 loss to Neumann University on Friday afternoon at Houghton University.
 
"I am extremely pleased with our first Saxon field hockey performance versus a skilled Neumann team," Head Coach Adair Milmoe said. "We have work to do, but we showed great heart and team unity."
 
The Saxons (0-1, 0-0 Empire 8) were led by goalie SadieLyn Combs (Harpursville, NY/Harpursville) and her defense. They faced a total of 28 shots with 13 on-target while also defending 16 penalty corner attempts by the Knights (1-0, 0-0 Atlantic East). Combs set the Alfred University school record mark for single game saves with eight stops in cage for the Saxons.
 
The Saxon defense held strong for the first three quarters of play, giving up only one goal per period. Neumann tacked on two goals in the fourth quarter to reach the 5-0 mark. Harper Cutting (Bernardston, MA/Franklin County Technical), Valérie Borg du Prie (Brussels, Belgium/European School Ixelles), Mika Larrison (Centereach, NY/Centereach) and Sydney Angelo (Windsor, NY/Windsor Central) all had key plays that kept the Knight offense from attempting shots.
 
In the midfield, Angelo and Borg du Prie were joined by Molly Howlett (Brockport, NY/Brockport) and Ruby Kavanagh (Queens, NY/LaGuardia High School of Music & Art) as instrumental players to keep Neumann outside of the arc. Angelo, along with Annie Smith (Webster, NY/Webster Thomas) and Izzy Santella (Middleport, NY/Royalton Hartland) all compiled the few offensive opportunities in transition as the Saxons were unable to execute a shot attempt, despite multiple first quarter and fourth quarter pushes.
 
The Saxons will next close out their program-opening weekend with a non-conference game against Lancaster Bible College at Houghton University on Saturday, August 30 at 2:30pm.