The Griffin field hockey team kicked off their 2017 season with a road match at Newberry on Friday night.  SHU tied the score at one heading to the half but the Wolves scored early in the second half for a 2-1 season opening victory.

Newberry scored the opening goal of the game at the 7:45 mark of the first half off a penalty corner.  The Wolves scored off a shot at the top of the arc to take a 1-0 lead.  The Griffins tied the score at one off a penalty corner of their own at the 22 minute mark of the half.  Michaela Swift-Mellor inserted the corner and found Kayla Chapman at the top of the arc.  Chapman hit the top corner of the cage to tie the score at one.  Newberry held a 5-2 advantage in shots in the half and a 2-1 advantage in penalty corners.

The Griffins nearly took the lead early in the second half off another penalty corner.  Mackenzie Nalepa hit Molly Childress with a penalty corner but Childress' shot was stopped.  Less than 10 minutes into the half, the Wolves took a 2-1 lead off another penalty corner.  Newberry held a 6-3 advantage in shots in the second half but the Griffins held a 6-4 advantage in corners in the second half.

Jane Eberhardt finished with 4 saves in cage.  Nicole Susi and Childress each had two shots. 

SHU returns to action on Sunday afternoon when they take on Converse College in Spartanburg, SC.