NEWBERRY, S.C. – Wibien Dahmen completed a hat trick as the Newberry College field hockey team opened a three-game homestand with a 5-1 conference victory over Converse on Tuesday night.
The Wolves wasted little time getting on the board. Less than three minutes into the match, Dahmen continued her strong start to the season, finding the back of the net off a deflection from Amber Tozana to give Newberry an early 1-0 advantage.
Both sides battled back and forth for much of the remainder of the opening quarter before Newberry struck again late in the period. Zoe Barker took a pass from Tozana and converted for the Wolves' second goal, sending Newberry into the first break with a 2-0 lead.
Defense took center stage in the second quarter, as neither side was able to find the back of the cage. The Wolves carried their two-goal advantage into halftime.
Newberry's attack came back to life in the third quarter. Dahmen opened the second-half scoring with her second goal of the night to extend the lead to 3-0. Mia Pancoast followed shortly after, adding another for the Wolves and pushing the advantage to 4-0.
Dahmen put the finishing touch on her night in the closing minutes, capitalizing on a breakaway opportunity off a feed from Parker Keeler to complete the hat trick and give Newberry its fifth goal of the match.
Converse broke through for its lone goal in the final minutes, but the Wolves closed out the 5-1 victory to remain unbeaten in conference play.
With the win, Newberry improves to 5-1 overall and 4-0 in South Atlantic Conference play.
The Wolves remain at home for a nationally ranked showdown on Friday, September 25, when they welcome No. 4 West Chester (Pa.) to Newberry for a 7 p.m. start.
