October 2, 2008
WC Bests Gophers, 4-1, to Post Best-Ever Start
Shorewomen Now 8-1 for First Time Ever

CHESTERTOWN, MD -- The Washington College field hockey team improved to 8-1 for the first time in program history with a 4-1 non-conference win over visiting Goucher College tonight on Kibler Field at Roy Kirby, Jr. Stadium. The Shorewomen's current seven-game win streak is their first since finishing the 1998 season with seven straight wins.

Washington got on the board 4:22 into the game as senior attack Candace Gaull (Laurel, DE/Laurel) blasted in a shot from the top of the circle following a pass from senior midfielder Amy Spadanuta (Hackettstown, NJ/Warren Hills). Junior attack Kristin Bircsak (East Windsor, NJ/Hightstown) made it 2-0 when she received the ball on a breakaway and dribbled around a Goucher defender before firing in a goal with 24:24 remaining in the period. Bircsak then had a shot redirected into the goal by sophomore attack Danielle Rosato (Narvon, PA/Pequea Valley) for a 3-0 lead with 22:48 to play before halftime.

Mary Cadwallender got Goucher (3-7) on the board with a goal off an assist from Sara Spadanuta with 16:55 to go in the period.

Washington scored the only goal of the second half when senior attack Jaimie Barlow (Bel Air, MD/John Carroll) scored off an assist from Bircsak 2:55 into the half.

Washington held a 19-6 advantage in shots and a 12-5 edge in penalty corners in the game. Junior goalkeeper Elena Nicholoff (Tunkhannock, PA/Lackawanna Trail) made five saves for the Shorewomen, while Chloe Dircks made seven stops for the Gophers. Barb Koziel made a pair of defensive saves for Goucher.

The Shorewomen's previous best-ever start to a season was 7-1, set in 1996 and matched in 1997.

The Shorewomen return to action Monday with a 4:00 p.m. home game against Moravian.

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