LEXINGTON, Ky. (September 30, 2023) – For the first time since 2017 and for the first time ever as North Coast Athletic Conference opponents, the Denison University field hockey team took on Transylvania University. Athena Joannou and the Big Red defense recorded their sixth shutout in a row and Emma Gebhart scored twice in the first quarter to get the Big Red off and running in a 5-0 win over the Pioneers on Saturday at Pat Deacon Stadium.

Gebhart's two goals actually both came in the 11th minute, first off the assist from Tabitha Chandler and then on an assist by Abigail Hano after a penalty corner from Kate Hinshaw.

Gebhart added another shot on goal in the 12th minute, but Transylvania's Libby Bringard made her third save of the first quarter.

A penalty corner by Claire Willoughby in the 21st minute led to a goal by Nina Casingal to make it 3-0 at halftime.

Then after another shot on goal by Gebhart was saved by Bringard in the opening 20 seconds of the second half, Denison was able to put up a goal in all four quarters as Kristin Kelley scored in the 34th minute and Reilly Desmond scored in the 53rd.

Behind Gebhart's four shots on goal, Grace Lock put both of her shot attempts on goal while Katherine Flanagan and Chandler both added two total shots.

For Gebhart, it was the second two-goal performance of her freshman season after doing so in a 5-0 win over Allegheny College on September 16.

In addition, Desmond's goal was the first of her rookie season while Kelley's was the first of her junior campaign.  

The Pioneers did not have their first shot until the 40th minute, resulting in the lone save of the game by Joannou, who leads the NCAC in save percentage (.821 percent) and also saw her goals-against average drop to 0.63.

In addition to improving to 6-2 overall and 5-0 in the NCAC, Denison improved to 4-0 all-time against Transylvania, which fell to 3-7 and 0-3 with its fourth loss in a row.

Denison will finish off the weekend at 11 a.m. tomorrow (Oct. 1) at Centre College.