CORTLAND, N.Y. – Three different players scored first-half goals as the nationally 17th-ranked Cortland field hockey team defeated St. Lawrence, 3-1, Wednesday afternoon in non-conference action at the Stadium Complex. The Red Dragons won their 10th consecutive game and finished the regular season at 14-2, while the Saints fell to 7-10.

Senior Abigail Wentlent (Greene), junior Brittany Murphy (North Syracuse/Cicero-North Syracuse) and sophomore Alexa Sanzone (Rome/Rome Free Academy) each scored for Cortland with junior Sara O'Brien (Amherst) collecting an assist. Sophomore goalie Mairead Hourihan (Yorktown Heights/Lakeland) made four saves in running her record to 6-0 on the season.

Junior Kara Pelosi (Medfield, MA) tallied St. Lawrence's goal. Sophomore Carly Dziekan (Yorkville/New York Mills) recorded two second-half defensive saves. Sophomore goalie Julia Hudson (South Burlington, VT) made 16 saves in 60 minutes, 56 seconds before giving way to junior Kim Haab (Stowe, VT), who turned aside one shot over the final 9:56.

Murphy gave Cortland a 1-0 lead with her second goal of the season 8:27 into the game. O'Brien sent a low pass from the top of the circle toward the right post where Murphy deflected the ball into the cage. Less than two minutes later, Wentlent converted a penalty corner for her sixth goal of the season to put the Red Dragons ahead 2-0.

The Saints had an excellent chance to cut into the lead with just under 15 minutes remaining in the half. After St. Lawrence was awarded a penalty corner, two Cortland players were sent out of the cage, leaving just two defenders and Hourihan against seven Saint attackers. After the insertion, Wentlent broke up a pass and cleared the ball out of the circle.

The Red Dragons then increased their lead to 3-0 at the half when Sanzone scored her 10th goal of the season. Sanzone carried in alone on Hudson, who charged off her line and checked the ball away, but Sanzone recovered possession and lifted a shot into the open cage.

St. Lawrence spoiled the shutout bid with 9:04 remaining in the second half as Pelosi rifled a shot from the left side that deflected off a Cortland defender and into the cage for her team-high 11th goal of the season.

The Red Dragons return to action when they host Geneseo in a SUNYAC Semifinal, Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 4 p.m.  

Cortland 3, St. Lawrence 1

Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists):
St. Lawrence: Kara Pelosi 1-0
Cortland: Brittany Murphy 1-0, Abigail Wentlent 1-0, Alexa Sanzone 1-0, Sara O'Brien 0-1

Halftime: Cortland 3, St. Lawrence 0
Shots: Cortland 26, St. Lawrence 7
Penalty Corners: Cortland 12, St. Lawrence 6
Saves: Julia Hudson (St. Lawrence) 16 (3 GA in 60:56), Kim Haab (St. Lawrence) 1 (0 GA in 9:04); Mairead Hourihan (Cortland) 4 (1 GA in 70:00)

Record after game: St. Lawrence (Saints) 7-10; Cortland (Red Dragons) 14-2 (ranked 17th nationally in Div. III)