On Saturday, Sept. 14, Hamilton Field Hockey narrowly defeated the Wesleyan University Cardinals 2–1. In their fourth game and second NESCAC matchup of the season, the Continentals improved to 2–2. Ranked 24th nationally out of DIII teams, they etched their first victory against a ranked opponent after losing to two in their second and third games of the season, beating the 15th-ranking Cardinals.
Hamilton took an early 1–0 lead early in the first period when Claire Tratnyek ’26 scored, set up by a penalty corner taken by Delaney Grace ’25. Tratnyek was able to sweep a low shot past Wesleyan goalie Audrey Pace ’26 and the other defenders in front of her. The rest of the first period saw two on-goal shots from Wesleyan, which were saved by Hamilton goalie Abby Griffin ’26. Hamilton also recorded two shots in the first period after their early goal, both of which missed wide.
The Cardinals were more aggressive in the second period, getting off five shots to the Continentals’ one. The Cardinals finally connected on a shot attempt with 18 seconds remaining in the period, when Helen Deretchin ’25 took advantage of a Continental turnover close to the goal, scoring on a backhand near the top of the arc.
Heading into the third period with the game tied at 1–1, Hamilton goalie Kelly Janssen ’28 came in to relieve Griffin. Hamilton was able to effectively contain Wesleyan’s offense, allowing them to get off just one shot throughout the period, which missed wide. While they were unable to find the back of the cage themselves, Hamilton had two shots on target, both of which were saved by Pace.
The Continentals continued their defensive pressure in the final period, allowing just one shot by the Cardinals, and recorded three of their own. Hamilton regained their lead with just under eight minutes to go in the game with a goal by Evelyn Butorac ’27, who smashed a bouncing pass from Sydney Familo ’25 past the goalie. The Continentals were able to prevent any more shots on goal by the Cardinals in the final eight minutes, solidifying their 2–1 victory.
The game’s team stats reflect the closeness of the game. Hamilton got off just one less total shot than Wesleyan with nine to their ten. Both teams recorded five saves, four coming from Griffin and one from Janssen. This adds to Griffin’s current season total of nine saves and Janssen’s eleven. With the team’s defensive and goalkeeping efforts only allowing one goal, the Continentals now have the third-highest save percentage with .769, which is only lower than Williams and Amherst.
Tratynek led the game with three shots on goal in three total shots, which matched Wesleyan’s Imani Ochieng’s ’25 three shots attempted. Tratynek is now second on the team in points this season with three, second only to Lydon Kelley ’25 who has four. Familo led both teams in assists with one, her first point of the season.
The Continentals will take on Union College on Wednesday, Sept. 18, at 6 p.m. on Goodfriend Field where Hamilton will look to use their momentum from their exciting win over Wesleyan to boost them over .500. Then on Saturday, Sept. 21, at 12 p.m. on Goodfriend Field, Hamilton will face Tufts University, who are ranked seventh nationally, in another NESCAC matchup.
