BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- Senior midfielder Chelsea Grotyohann and junior forward Cayley Wise each netted two first half goals as the Moravian College field hockey team scored nine times before halftime in a 9-0 non-conference win over Cedar Crest College on a hot and humid Betty Prince Field Wednesday afternoon.
Grotyohann didn't take long to get the scoring started in the first half as she put a rebound in the back of the net after a penalty corner for the Greyhounds just 1:39 into the match.
"It felt great to get another goal this season and exciting to score after starting off the preseason hurt," Grotyohann said. "I loved the way our team passed today. Even though we were winning by a lot early, it brought out that team chemistry that we've been looking for, and we worked with each other really well."
Junior midfielder Catherine Duffin needed just another 1:35 to make Moravian's lead 2-0 when she put in a blast from the right side of the goal.
"It definitely helps to score quickly," Head Coach Amy Endler. "It gives us a lot of confidence going into the rest of the game. I think it makes the other girls want to score goals as well and that was key to the quick start and something we haven't had this season."
Senior forward Keriann Badessa would get in on the scoring in the seventh minute as she tapped in a shot by Duffin while sophomore forward Kelly O'Donnell pushed the Greyhounds' advantage to 4-0 in the eighth minute as she got in a breakaway past the goalie.
Wise tapped in a rebound off of a shot in the 19th minute for her first of the game, and then she one-timed a pass from freshman forward Kyla Rodrigues eight minutes later down the goal line for her second of the match. Rodrigues picked up her first collegiate goal just 25 seconds later as she tapped in a crossing pass from sophomore forward Tiffany Gumina.
Grotyohann scored again with 15 minutes to go in the first half as she tapped in a loose ball for her team-leading third goal of the season. Junior forward Taylor Holly finished the scoring in the 31st minute when she put in a crossing pass from freshman forward Marisa Antuzzi.
"I saw a lot of good things today," Endler said. "Our passing was excellent, and our finishing inside the circle was great. We went after every ball and that was something we haven't seen yet this season so it was a good day to get it under our belts."
Moravian, which is now 3-1 for the second time in three years, took 54 shots in the match with Wise and freshman Erin Tiwold each taking nine shots apiece. The Greyhounds also had 17 penalty corners in the match.
"It is great to be 3-1 right now, and we want to keep it going," Grotyohann said. "We're looking for a lot of good competition because we feel we're just as good as everyone else."
Senior goalie Andrea Eck played the first half in goal for the Greyhounds, making two saves while freshman keeper Megan Kanyuk made her collegiate debut in the second half. Freshman goalie Kaitlyn Brendlinger recorded 28 saves for the Falcons.
The Greyhounds were playing their first match of the year on the natural grass surface at Betty Prince after playing their first two home matches of the year on the turf at Rocco Calvo Field. Moravian will play six of its nine home matches at Rocco Calvo Field this season. The victory improved Moravian's record at home to 9-2 since the start of the 2012 season.
"You're in a routine at home," Endler said. "We don't have to worry about getting on a bus, and worry if you're going to be late. It is nice to be surrounded by family and friends as well. We really enjoy playing at home."
Moravian is slated to return to action on Saturday, September 14 when the squad hosts William Paterson University on the turf at Rocco Calvo Field at 1:00 pm.
