LOUISVILLE, Ky.—After a brief delay due to lightning, the Bellarmine Field Hockey team got its 2018 season off to a start with a 3-2 exhibition victory over Centre College today at Frazier Stadium.

Juniors Lindsay Reynolds and Merit Harris led the Bellarmine offense with Reynolds netting two of the BU's three goals and Harris assisting on two.

The Knights scored the only goal of the first half on the game's first penalty corner, which came less than five minutes into the contest.  Reynolds inserted to Harris, who rifled the ball toward the goal, and Jillian Fazio deflected it past the Centre goalie for the score.

Following the Bellarmine goal, offense was scarce in the first period as the teams combined to take just six shots in the final 30 minutes.

After halftime, the teams came out ready to score with the Colonels getting the equalizer on a nice pass and shoot combo just 3:34 into the second half. Centre's Caroline Brotzge delivered a great feed into Savannah Elpers into the center of the circle, and she redirected the ball just inside the right side of the goal to tie the game.  

The Knights wasted little time in reclaiming the lead, scoring on their ensuing offensive possession.  Harris got the ball to April Paulson in the right side of the circle, and she found Reynolds all alone in front of the goal for a shot from point blank range. 

Bellarmine then tacked on its third goal of the game less than two minutes later in a similar fashion.  This time, it was Harris that found Reynolds in front of the cage, and she easily converted for a 3-1 Knights' lead.

The visiting Colonels closed to within one four minutes later on a goal by Sarah Biggs, but the teams played the final 25 minutes scoreless as Bellarmine hung on for the 3-2 win.

For the game, Centre owned advantages in both shots (13-8) and penalty corners (9-7), but Bellarmine goalie Heather Gregory posted six saves on the day to help preserve the win for the Knights.

Bellarmine begins regular season play on Friday, Aug. 31, when they host St. Anselm in a 6:30 PM contest.
 
BOX SCORE (PDF)