SUNY Cortland Athletics

MONTCLAIR, N.J. - Senior Tori Peterson (Whitney Point) scored twice and senior Sofia Cannistraci (Guilderland) made three saves for a shutout in her first collegiate start as the Cortland field hockey team opened its 2026 season with a 5-0 win at Montclair State University.
 
In addition to Peterson's two goals, sophomores Lillian Morse (Burnt Hills/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) and Gabriella Gemelli (Clinton) each finished with a goal and an assist. Sophomore Sadie Hoffmann (Miller Place) added a goal and sophomore Kaylee Hughen (Lake Hopatcong, NJ/Boonton) notched one assist.
 
For Montclair State, which also was opening its season, starting goalie Sydney White made eight saves in three quarters and Benna Clark stopped six shots and did not allow any goals in the fourth quarter.
 
Cortland finished the game with a 22-5 advantage in shots, including a 10-1 margin in the first half. The Red Dragons also earned eight of the game's nine penalty corners.
 
After a scoreless first quarter, Peterson opened the scoring 5:18 into the second with a reverse stick shot from the right side that found the left side of the cage. Cortland scored twice in the final three minutes of the period to take a 3-0 halftime lead. Hoffman controlled a penalty corner insertion from Gemelli and blasted a shot from near the top of the circle with 2:31 left, and Morse took a feed from Hughen, dribbled into the circle and scored from straight on with 1:07 remaining before halftime.
 
Peterson scored 2:59 into the third to extend the lead to 4-0 as she fought for a loose ball in the circle before scoring from close range. The Red Dragons' final goal came 6:01 into the third when Gemelli sent a penalty corner insertion to Morse, who then found Gemelli open near the left post for a re-direction.
 
Cortland will host nationally 21st-ranked Haverford in a non-league game Saturday at 11 a.m.