SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Junior Blaise Cugini had a career afternoon with four goals to lead the undefeated IUP field hockey team to a 5-1 victory at Slippery Rock Sunday afternoon.
 
Cugini scored two times in the opening half and twice more less than seven minutes apart in the second half in the most dominant performance of her collegiate career.
 
Her four goals tied an IUP single game record which has been equaled six times prior, most recently by Jess Kida against Newberry in 2013. It also brought her goal tally to five for the season.
 
The Crimson Hawks improved to 4-0 with the win, the second straight season (2019) they opened the year with four straight victories.
 
Cugini's first half goals came in the third and 25th minutes, and gave IUP a 2-0 lead heading into halftime. After Slippery Rock (3-3) scored with time running out in the third quarter, Cugini answered with her third score just over 30 seconds later to make it a 3-1 game heading to the fourth.
 
Cugini scored once more in the 51st minute and then IUP received a goal by Georgiana Chiavacci to cap the scoring in the 57th.
 
The five goals is the most by the Hawks since they opened 2019 with a 5-1 victory over Frostburg State.
 
Up next
The Crimson Hawks return home for the first time in more than two weeks this Wednesday when they host Mercyhurst. It will be the final non-counting game before IUP opens its PSAC-mandated schedule Saturday at Millersville.
 
Follow
For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP field hockey on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPfieldhockey.