MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Centre field hockey entered the 2023 Southern Athletic Association (SAA) tournament as the no.1 seed, taking a first round bye to automatically advance to the semifinals. Downing the Falcons by a score of 3-1, the Colonels advanced to the championship game where they'll face the no.2 seed Rhodes.  
 

GAME HIGHLIGHTS     
- The Colonels opened the game's scoring midway through the second period, finding their first goal in Claire Martin during a penalty corner. Not even two minutes later, Jackie Rodriguez stretched Centre's hold to two with an unassisted goal. Later, just before halftime, Peyton Gahm joined the scoring column with the help of Olivia Ruth, moving the score to Centre three, Concordia zero entering the break. 
-The third quarter brought zero goals for either team. The game's scoring wouldn't resume until the final two minutes of the game when the Falcons tallied their first, and the game's final goal. When the time reached zero, the score read 3-1, the Colonels favoring.  
  
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE  
- Rodriguez led the game in points with one goal and one assist. Gahm and Martin tied Rodriguez for the game's leader in goals with one each.  
- Ruth and Rodriguez tied for the lead in assists with one.  
- In goal, Carlie McKenry stopped three of Concordia's four shots on goal. Centre took 26 shots. 
- The Colonels dominated in penalty corner plays, owning 12 to the Falcon's two.   

UP NEXT   

Centre field hockey will advance to the 2023 SAA Championship game with hopes of defending their title. They'll face the no.2 Rhodes on Sunday, Nov. 5th, at 1 p.m. ET.