Luessmann Nets Her Second Goal of the Season; Field Hockey Drops Competitive Matchup Versus Sacred Heart

HANOVER, N.H. – Dartmouth field hockey went toe-to-toe with Sacred Heart in a tough battle at Chase Field on Sunday, out-shooting the Pioneers 12-7 and matching them goal for goal before a late Sacred Heart strike proved to be the difference in a hard-fought 2-1 loss. Dartmouth falls to 1-2 on the season, while Sacred Heart improves to 1-4.

Sacred Heart struck first, with Riley Schultz scoring the first goal of her career at the 12:27 mark, but Dartmouth answered with pressure of its own in the opening quarter. Riley Dumigan tested the Pioneers' defense early, and a Dumigan corner set up a strong look from Ella Bowman that Sacred Heart goalkeeper Ruby Butler had to work to save.

The Big Green came out with intent in the second quarter and got rewarded for it. Senior goalkeeper Kylie McKinley made a big save to keep the deficit at one, and Dartmouth kept the pressure on, forcing Butler into stops on shots from Lucia Compaño and Gemma Franco before Amelie Luessmann finished the job — burying her second goal of the season, unassisted, to level the match at 1-1 heading into the half.

Dartmouth continued to create in the third quarter, drawing a pair of corners and getting two shots from Ruby Walsh that were narrowly blocked. Sacred Heart found the game's decisive goal at 35:30 on a Riley Schultz finish off a Cate McConaghy assist, but McKinley kept Dartmouth within a goal, coming up with another key save late in the quarter.

The Big Green kept pushing for the equalizer in the fourth, generating one of the best looks of the day when Madeline Windsor rattled the post, and Luessmann drew yet another save from Butler as Dartmouth searched for a way back in front. With time winding down, the Big Green pulled McKinley for an extra attacker and threw everything it had at Sacred Heart's defense down the stretch, but the Pioneers held on to close out the 2-1 win.

Luessmann was the offensive standout for Dartmouth, scoring her second goal of the season on a team-high two shots on goal, and the Big Green got quality looks throughout the match from Walsh, Compaño and Franco. McKinley turned in another steady performance in net, making four saves across 55-plus minutes of work, and Dartmouth's 12-7 shot advantage was a clear sign the Big Green competed with the Pioneers.

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