NEWBERRY - The Newberry College field hockey team played its inaugural match Thursday night, falling to the Limestone Saints in front of an NCAA Division II record-breaking crowd.

Despite the Wolves' (0-1) strong offensive performance, the hosts fell to Limestone (1-0) by a score of 7-1.

The Wolves' first-ever contest caught the attention of the Newberry student body and community population, setting a new Division II regular season attendance record with 665 fans, breaking the previous record by 32.

“Having the crowd support tonight really put our girls in the right frame of mind for the game,” head coach Catherine Somits said. “It was a very humbling experience having the whole school behind us.”
[Somits postgame interview]

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The scarlet and gray fell behind early, but Karissa Dodson (Glen Burnie, Md.) cut the lead to 2-1 at the 14:16 mark off of a penalty corner, setting off celebration in the stands as the record crowd witnessed the program's first-ever goal.

Alisha Locklear (Glen Burnie, Md.) and Anna Kate Smith (Gaithersburg, Md.) were credited with the assists.

Limestone showed prowess in the counterattack, as most of the Saints' goals came in transition offensive opportunities as the more experienced team pulled away later in the first half.

The Wolves calmed down in the second half, allowing only two goals and controlling the ball on the offensive end of the pitch, earning nine penalty corners.

The difference in the game came down to converting offensive opportunities. Limestone only outshot Newberry by a 15-12 margin, with Wolves' goalkeeper Morgan Downey (Millersville, Md.) recording five saves.

Limestone goal scorers were Jill Funkhouser (2), Rachel Goromonzi (2), Kelsey Barr, Nicolle Grant and Casey Werkheiser.

Newberry notched 13 penalty corners to the Saints' two, converting the goal on one of those chances.

The young Wolves squad will look to continue their improvement in just two days, as No. 6 Indiana (Pa.) comes to Setzler Field for a noon match.

Top 5 Attended Division II Field Hockey Matches