ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University field hockey team began its 2026 season with a 7-1 loss to Russell Sage College on Saturday afternoon from Yunevich Stadium in Empire 8 action.
The Saxons (0-1, 0-1 Empire 8) were led the
Molly Howlett (Brockport, NY/Brockport) with 27 saves. Her and her defense faced a total of 48 shots (36 on goal) and cleared four corner attempts from the Gators' (2-2, 1-0 Empire 8) five attempts in total.
Addison Knowles (Bainbridge, PA/Elizabethtown) also was paramount in the Saxon defense as she recorded two defensive saves, bringing the team save count up to 29 on the day. Howlett's 27 saves broke her career-high of 25, set last year against St. John Fisher University from Yunevich Stadium.
AU put up a late goal in the game for the first score of the season and first home goal in the program's two-year history (not counting a home goal during an exhibition game in 2025 against D'Youville University).
Lizzy Sleight (Webster, NY/Webster Thomas) drove the ball down field after a threaded pass from high school teammate, now college teammate,
Annie Smith (Webster, NY/Webster Thomas). The Sage keeper slid to kick the ball away and Sleight recovered to pass around her and the Gator defenders back to Smith who tucked it away into the bottom right of the cage.
"A tough first game with some bright spots including big defensive games from Addison [Knowles] and Molly [Howlett] in net as well as the first goal of the season by Annie [Smith] sparked by the offensive pressure of Lizzy [Sleight]." Head Coach
Shelby Bourn said. "We are looking forward to growing from here."
The Saxons played a sound game, keeping the fouls to a minimum by committing only 15 compared to Russell Sage's 28.
The Saxons will next travel to St. John Fisher University on Saturday, September 19 for an 11:00am Empire 8 game.
-- Swords Forward Saxons --
