ROCHESTER, N.Y. – History was made on Redhawks Field as the clock struck 4 on Friday afternoon.
The Roberts Wesleyan University field hockey team took the field for its inaugural game, playing Mercyhurst in a non-conference matchup. The visiting Lakers defeated Roberts 12-0, but the significance of participating in the first game in school history was not lost on head coach Marissa Kocher and the 13 players on the Redhawks' roster.
"I was just so honored to represent the university and play today," sophomore Kamryn DeMarzio said. "It is incredibly gratifying and humbling to be able to say that I played in the first-ever game and was on the field and did that. Everybody put their heart into it today."
"I am really proud that we competed throughout the whole game and focused on some of the things that we have been working on," said Kocher, who was hired as head coach in March and has been preparing for the start of the season ever since. "I am really proud of the way that they communicated and supported each other. You can't ask for more than that. Moving forward, I am just looking for progress."
The day was extra special for DeMarzio, who hadn't played in a field hockey game since her sophomore year in high school four years ago.
"It was definitely a scary opportunity, but it was an exciting opportunity as well," DeMarzio said.
Roberts received standout efforts from both of its goalies. Avery Richardson started the game and made 17 saves in 34:26 and Abigail Henderson made four saves in the final 25:36.
"I was very proud of both of the goalies," Kocher said. "Avery made some very big saves starting out and Abigail did a good job coming in."
While Kocher's attention was focused on guiding her team throughout the entire afternoon, she did take some time to soak in the moment.
"It was really cool to look out there and see that field hockey is being played on this field," Kocher said.
The same two teams meet again at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Mercyhurst.