Anjela Galimberti

An early goal coupled with solid defending had The College of Wooster field hockey team out in front for most of the opening stanza, but SUNY Oneonta lit the scoreboard right before and after the halftime break to notch a 2-1 victory over the Fighting Scots in a season-opening tilt for both teams Saturday at Oneonta, N.Y.

Junior Anjela Galimberti, an all-conference pick a season ago as a defender, established herself as an offensive threat from the start of this game, especially on the penalty corner unit. Just 12:58 into the action, Galimberti directed a pass from Kerry O'Connor past the goalkeeper to put Wooster up 1-0. It was the second goal of her career.

The Scots (0-1) limited the Red Dragons (1-0) to three shot attempts in the first half, but the third found its mark, as Andrea Day delivered the equalizer at 30:39 to knot the score at 1-1 at the game's midway point.

Both offenses picked up the pace in the second half, with 23 shots recorded in all, but an early one by the Red Dragons wound up being the difference. About four minutes into the period, Bailee Barrett scored off a cross into the box that held up as the game-winner.

Wooster had opportunities to get back on the scoreboard, with some of its best attempts coming at the beginning of the second half as well, including a shot by O'Connor that hit the post and a penalty stroke by Galimberti that was saved.

Offensively, Wooster earned seven corners compared to three for SUNY Oneonta and outshot its opponent 17-15. Goalkeeper Carrie Mount made seven saves – all coming in the second half – while her counterpart Tess Tracy was credited with 11.

The Scots will remain in Upstate New York for a neutral site game tomorrow with Utica College at 11:30 p.m.