Box Score photo by Pam Kalbfleisch
BELMONT, N.C. (CentreColonels.com) – The Centre field hockey team continued its hot streak on Saturday afternoon as the Colonels rolled to their ninth win in a row with a 3-1 triumph over Division II Belmont Abbey in a non-conference matchup at Alumni Field. Centre improved to 11-3 on the season with the victory, while the Crusaders drop to 2-8.
The Colonels' nine-game winning streak represents their longest since Centre won 10 consecutive games to start the 2007 season.
The Colonels got on the board in the 10th minute of action when junior forward Hayley Barker (Louisville, Ky.) netted her 14th goal of the season off the assist by senior forward Cole Jordan (Louisville, Ky.).
Centre extended its lead to 2-0 with no time showing on the clock in the first half as senior midfielder Alicia Kalbfleisch (Louisville, Ky.) found the back of the cage after a penalty corner by senior defender Nicole DeHerde (Hope, N.J.).
The Colonels would tack on another goal 10 minutes into the second frame when senior defender Kathryn Hardesty (Louisville, Ky.) found junior forward Brooklyn Bell (Louisville, Ky.) for the score.
Belmont Abbey minimized the deficit late in the game when Jamie Fox scored off the deflection on a long shot by Kristen Perret.
Centre owned 12-9 shooting edge in the win, while the Crusaders held a 13-10 advantage in penalty corners.
Senior goalkeeper and Southern Athletic Association (SAA) Defensive Player of the Week Kirby Roberts (Louisville, Ky.) made a pair of saves in the cage for the Colonels.
Centre is back in action on Friday evening hosting Concordia (Wisc.) in another non-conference matchup at 5 p.m. at the South Campus Field. Friday marks the last home game of the regular season for the Colonels.
