St. Charles, MO. – The IUP field hockey team opened their 2017 fall season with a 3-1 loss against Lindenwood University in non-conference play, Friday evening at Harlen C. Hunter Stadium.
 
With the loss, the Crimson Hawks start their campaign 0-1, while the Lindenwood Lions improve to 1-0.
 
Lindenwood took the lead early, scoring their first goal in the sixth minute and adding another in the eighteenth. Trailing by two in the second half, junior forward Matti Reightler (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) scored IUP's only goal, which happened at the 37:43-mark. Lindenwood extended the gap at the 58:56-mark, scoring their third and final goal of the game.
 
Senior goaltender Alyssa Lerda (Wexford, Pa./Pine-Richland) had a total of eight saves for the Crimson Hawks, compared to Lindenwood's goalie, Skylar Starbeck, who had seven.
 
Collectively IUP had a total of eight shots on goal, with junior forward Selena West (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg) tallying half of those herself.
 
The Crimson Hawks prepare for game two of the season, staying in St. Charles to face the Bellarmine University Knights on Saturday, September 2 at 2 p.m.
 
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP field hockey on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPfieldhockey.