FIELD HOCKEY'S LATE RALLY THWARTED IN SEASON OPENER

BOX SCORE
MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Junior Sidney Encarnacion made a career-high 13 saves and freshman Stacey Mackintosh scored her first collegiate goal, but Central Michigan used two early strikes and held off a late Radford flurry to defeat the Highlanders (0-1) 2-1 in the season opener for both squads at the Colonial Classic hosted by Robert Morris on Saturday morning.

Bailey McKeon (9') and Erin Dye (15') staked the Chippewas (1-0) to a 2-0 lead in the first 15 minutes of the match. McKeon converted off a rebound, while Dye tipped in the initial shot by Maureen Riley, forcing Radford into an early timeout.

The Chippewas continued to pressure the Highlanders' cage, but Encarnacion held her ground the rest of the half and contest. She made eight stops in the first half and five more in the second, allowing her squad to keep within striking distance.

Radford found paydirt and cut the lead in half when Mackintosh struck from the top of the circle on a direct corner in the 55^th minute. The rookie rattled the board on the first shot of her collegiate career, which was assisted by sophomore Jennifer Hedrick, also a collegiate first for the second-year midfielder.

Radford had one last shot when it earned a corner with just under four minutes to play, but the initial shot and its rebound were blocked before the final attempt by sophomore Kellen Keys was saved by Anastasia Netto, preserving CMU's advantage.

Mackintosh finished with two of Radford's six shots. Netto tallied three saves, while Dye amassed a match-best 10 shots for CMU.

The Highlanders conclude play at the Colonial Classic tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. against host Robert Morris.

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