Denison University

GRANVILLE, Ohio- A five-hour lightning delay didn't impact the Denison field hockey team from recording a 4-1 victory over Roanoke College in front of an energetic home opening crowd. Notching its first win of the 2026 season, the Big Red are finally in the win column and move to 1-2 for the season, while the Maroons drop to 1-3 for the year.

In the first quarter, Denison took just two minutes to find the back of Roanoke's cage. With the field soaked by the torrential rain, the turf was packed down, and the ball seemed to move fluidly amongst the Big Red players. Denison found itself deep in the Maroons' defensive third, and rattled off back-to-back shots that would eventually lead to senior Reilly Desmond gathering a rebound off a deflected save for goal number one for the Big Red. Minutes later, Desmond would push past her Roanoke defenders and dump a pass to her teammate Emma Gebhart for goal number two.

The Maroons would cut into Denison's lead three minutes into the second quarter; however, they were back down by two following Gebhart's second goal of the afternoon after Lulu Keil inserted a penalty corner that was neatly handled by Tabitha Chandler, who dished it to Gebhart, giving the Big Red a 3-1 lead heading into the third.

The two teams were scoreless in the third quarter, despite securing a total of five penalty corners between them. In the fourth, Desmond stretched Denison's lead to three, putting in yet another rebound shot for her second goal of the day. 

In the cage for the Big Red, junior goalie Therese Lucian stopped three shots,which included an impressive diving save off a penalty stroke attempt she faced early in the first half. Lucian's backline gave up just five penalty corners throughout the day, and first-year Avery Painter recorded her first defensive save as a Big Red. Denison held a 13 to 5 advantage in penalty corners and outshot the Maroons 21-6, with 15 shots on target.

Up Next for the Big Red

The Big Red are back in Granville for a midweek North Coast Athletic Conference matchup against the College of Wooster Fighting Scots on Wednesday, September 10. The Big Red and the Fighting Scots will take to the field at 4:30 p.m.