Garden City, N.Y. - Highlighted by a hat trick from the visitors' Jasmine Miller, the Adelphi University field hockey team fell to #6 West Chester University of Pennsylvania in its home opener on Thursday, September 12, by a final score of 5-0. 

Penalty corners were the name of the game, with the Golden Rams dominating in that category 14-2. They had already taken three when the in-putter on the third, Ella Shockley, put one over the far shoulder of goalkeeper Tayla Szmak to open the day's scoring. The offense kept coming over the first 15, with five shots mainly blocked by the defense before reaching Szmak. 

The second frame saw more of the same story, as West Chester upped their penalty corner edge to 9-0 before the halftime buzzer hit, including a stretch of three in a matter of 21 seconds. Szmak was able to connect with her pads on a shot early, but the relentless attack proved to be too much. Jasmine Miller started her tallies off a rebound to double the visitor lead. Opportunities for the Brown and Gold's Amanda Lee and Lana Mignon de Wet were blocked and then saved by the Golden Rams' Ryan Curley. 

It was the home team who began to find a rhythm in the third quarter, getting four shots off in their zone. Adelphi also found their first penalty corner of the contest, with Ali Nagy firing a ball into the zone for Emiline Biggin and Mignon de Wet to handle. Unfortunately, the defensive front from the Purple and Gold was able to block every shot before reaching the goal line. Miller added her second of the game three minutes later, with the lead now standing at 3-0. 

One of the most promising moments of the game for the 'Cats was a breakaway started by Lee in the final 15 seconds. After the last defender was beat with Lee's pass, Jillian Riche found herself with a two on one breakaway with only the goalie in front of her stick. As she winded her stick back, the crowd held their breath as the shot was wide of the goal when the clock struck zero. 

The fourth quarter acted as insurance for West Chester, scoring two goals in 53 seconds including Miller's third. Szmak had her game highlight a minute and change in, when she saved back-to-back shots within 17 seconds. 

Mignon de Wet led the team in shots, with the only one on goal. Riche and Biggin's two were right behind her, with Lee and Docyk adding one apiece. Szmak finished with five saves. 

Head Coach Jess Mulhern and the Panthers will be back in action at home on Sunday, Sept. 15 against Slippery Rock University. Game time from Motamed Field is set for 12 noon.