INDIANA, Pa. – Freshman Blaise Cugini scored two goals and assisted on another highlighting IUP field hockey's 5-1 season-opening victory over Frostburg State Saturday evening at George P. Miller Stadium.
 
The Crimson Hawks completely dominated their matchup with the Bobcats, scoring the game's first five goals while outshooting Frostburg State 29-2 on the night.
 
Four different players found the back of the cage for IUP, with Cugini assisting on the opening goal by Georgiana Chiavacci in the 10th minute.
 
Cugini scored right before the end of the opening quarter with a beautiful lift from 15 yards out over the goalkeeper's reach. Lizzi Clemmer scored off a penalty corner five minutes later before Cugini tallied her second goal 40 seconds after that.
 
IUP took a 4-0 lead into the break, not allowing a single Frostburg shot in the opening 30 minutes.
 
Freshman Julia Davis put IUP's fifth goal on the board with a nice lift of her own right before the end of the third quarter. The Bobcats got on the board at the start of the fourth, one of only two shots in the final period.
 
The win was the first to open a season for the Crimson Hawks since 2015 and the five goals were the most by the program since scoring six against Seton Hill in 2017.
 
The three points by Cugini is the best debut performance by an IUP freshman since Sarah Zielinski scored three goals in an 18-1 route of Newberry in 2013.
 
Up next
The Crimson Hawks are on the road Wednesday as they head to Mansfield (1-0) for a mandated non-conference PSAC matchup. Game time is 4 p.m.
 
Follow
For up-to-date game information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP field hockey on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPfieldhockey.
 
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