Philadelphia, Pa. - (2/23/2019) – Chestnut Hill College opened their 2019 season this afternoon with a contest at Seton Hill University. In the battle of the Griffins, the home team proved superior as they dispatched the Scarlet and Gold in a 19-7 final. Junior midfielder Spencer Fitzgerald (Huntingtown, Md.) and senior midfielder Julia Reinert (Bridgeport, Pa.) led Chestnut Hill College; the former provided a team-high three goals and a pair of ground balls, while the latter recorded two goals, three ground balls, six draws, and three caused turnovers.
 
Chestnut Hill College (0-1) scored the first two goals of the affair with Fitzgerald (1-0, 27:38) and junior midfielder Mary Kroppe (Wyomissing, Pa.) (2-0, 23:52) scoring back-to-back goals, 2-0. But Seton Hill University (1-0) responded with a three-goal run that gave the home team a 3-2 lead just after the 21-minute mark (20:58). Reinert knotted the contest, 3-3, at 19:32 with an unassisted goal, but the stalemate was short-lived as Seton Hill University outscored the Chestnut Hill College 11-2 over the remainder of the first half to control a 14-5 halftime advantage. Unfortunately, the home team expanded their lead to 13 goals, 18-5 (17:49), early in the second half. Fitzgerald interrupted the Seton Hill University run with her third goal of the contest (18-6, 12:13) and Reinert followed with her second goal (18-7, 4:28), but the Scarlet and Gold rally was too little, too late as the home team added a 19^th goal for good measure in the final minute, 19-7 (0:57).
 
Senior midfielder Keagan Pontius (Caledonia, Mich.) led Seton Hill University with five goals, two assists, a ground ball, and a caused turnover. She had plenty of support as four other Griffins provided two or more goals; senior attack Mackenzie Kilduff (Timonium, Md.) stood out among them with four goals, two assists, and a ground ball. Junior midfielder Emma Haley (St. Charles, Ill.) controlled the draw with 13 restart recoveries. She also recorded three ground balls, and two caused turnovers. In goal, senior Hailey Jacobs (Pottstown, Pa.) (1-0) played a majority of the minutes (30:00); she totaled two ground balls and two of Seton Hill University's seven saves.
 
Senior attack Macailagh Smith (Red Bank, N.J.) was responsible for the remaining Chestnut Hill College tally. She also recovered a ground ball. Kroppe added two ground balls and a draw to her tally. In goal, senior Valeria Amaya (Oakland, Calif) (0-1) totaled 14 saves and four ground balls in the loss.
 
Chestnut Hill College resumes their schedule on Saturday, March 2, with a 1:00 p.m. home opener versus Millersville University.