PHOENIX DEFENSE STIFLES EXPRESS IN TOURNEY OPENER

MERCERSBURG, Pa. – The Wilson College Phoenix (1-1) allowed just one shot on goal and the offense tallied two goals in the second half en route to a 2-0 victory over the Wells College Express (1-2) in game one of the Wilson College Field Hockey Invitational on Saturday afternoon in Mercersburg, Pa. Wilson will move on to play Neumann University (2-3) in the Championship game tomorrow, while Wells will take on Shenandoah University (1-3), who fell to Neumann 3-1 earlier in the day, in the consolation game set to begin at 10 a.m.

Despite allowing two goals, Amanda Catalano (Lockport, N.Y./Royalton Heartland) was impressive in the net for the Express, finishing with nine saves including six first half saves. Nicole Melanson (Hyannis, Mass./Barnstable) and Hillary Swartz (Carlisle, Pa./Boiling Springs) each tallied goals for the Phoenix on assists from Natalie Guerreiro (Souderton, Pa./Souderton) and Maggie Sipps (Philadelphia, Pa./Little Flower) respectively.

The two teams remained scoreless through the first half with the Phoenix outshooting the Express 8-0 and holding the advantage on penalty corners 6-3. Wilson struck quickly in the second half as Melanson notched her first goal of the year at 38:52. Swartz put the game away late, scoring with less than six minutes to play (64:35) to give Wilson the 2-0 lead.