RELEASE: 8/29/08

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mansfield wins field hockey season opener 6-2 over Southern Connecticut – Laura Carden and Jaimie Purdy score two goals each

Box Score

NEW HAVEN, CT – Senior Laura Carden (Friendsville/Montrose) and freshman Jaimie Purdy (Erieville,NY/Cazenovia) each scored two goals to lead Mansfield to a 6-2 win over Southern Connecticut in the 2008 field hockey opener for both schools Friday afternoon in New Haven, CT.

Mansfield, ranked #10 in the NCAA Division II preseason poll, scored the first six goals including four in the first half. It was the most goals scored in a game by the Mountaineers since a 6-0 shutout over Millersville midway through the 2006 season.

Senior forward Rebekah Brown (Equinok/Hanover Central) opening the scoring with her first collegiate goal just three minutes into the game tipping a pass from freshman Jessie Wolski (Barker,NY/Barker Central).

Carden recorded her first collegiate goals 10 minutes late knocking in a rebound off the goalie’s pads before Purdy scored her first goal on an assist from Shana Markwis (Milford/Delaware Valley) in the 20^th minute.

Carden scored her second goal of the half fur minutes later placing a shot through the goalies legs and giving the Mountaineers a 4-0 halftime lead.

Purdy stuck again five minutes into the second half on an assist from Markwis off a corner. Freshman Jordan Rishel (Muncy/Muncy) scored Mansfield’s final goal with Carden credited with the assist in the 46^th minute.

Southern Connecticut got the final two games of the game 90 seconds apart on goals by Ann Berry and Whitney Martin.

Senior goalie Brianna DeLuca (West Grove/Avon Grove) stopped eight shots and Southern Connecticut held a 17-15 shot advantage.

Mansfield plays Bentley College at Southern Connecticut tomorrow and travels to Bryant College in Rhode Island on Monday before returning home.