WILMINGTON — Katie Hanich recorded a hat trick with an assist to help Saint Mark’s to a 7-0 victory against Ursuline in the season opener for both teams on Sept. 4 at Serviam Field.
The Spartans controlled the action from the jump, particularly in the first half, when Saint Mark’s was on offense most of the time. They peppered Raiders goalie Jess Kulenguskey (St. John the Beloved Parish) with shots early and often, but Kulenguskey was equal to the task, fighting off a few Spartans penalty corners.
There was little the goalie could do on Saint Mark’s third corner opportunity, when a shot found its way to the front of the net. Emersyn O’Leary was there to tap it into the cage two minutes in.
Hanich (St. John’s-Holy Angels Parish) got her first goal of the afternoon at the 5:40 mark. She was near the top of the scoring circle straight away and took a hard shot that got a piece of Kulenguskey before sailing high into the goal. Hanich added another early in the second quarter, the only goal of the stanza. The Spartans ended the half with consecutive penalty corners, but they could not add to the lead.
Saint Mark’s kept the offense humming in the second half. Alaina Papa (St. Mary of the Assumption Parish) scored after a restart from close proximity, and O’Leary finished a counter late in the third for her second. Brynn Eyler scored with 25 seconds to go in the third, and Hanich completed her hat trick a minute into the fourth.
The Spartans had a 26-0 shot advantage, and they earned 14 penalty corners. Cate Jones (St. Margaret of Scotland Parish) picked up the shutout. The Spartans (1-0) will have their home opener on Sept. 10 at 3:45 p.m. against Newark Charter.
Kulenguskey had 19 saves for Ursuline (0-1). The Raiders take on Padua on Sept. 10 at the Chase Fieldhouse at 3:45 p.m.
Photos by Mike Lang.
