OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Stevenson field hockey celebrated Labor Day in style with a 4-0 trouncing of Cedar Crest on Monday afternoon at Owings Mills East. 

Stevenson (2-1) dictated pace and possession throughout the contest, finding the back of the net in each quarter. It marked the second shutout of the season for the Mustangs, who held a decisive 19-2 advantage in shots. Defensively, the Mustangs insulated goalkeeper Jamie Fritz by not allowing a shot on goal. Veronica Maring posted a goal and assist, one of four different goal scorers for the Mustangs.

Haley Palmer, Rylee Leakway and Macy Kosanovich also scored for Stevenson in the convincing victory. Meanwhile, Cedar Crest (0-2) had a penalty shot sail high for its best chance of the afternoon while goalkeeper Brynn Rifino had a strong effort with 11 saves. 

Stevenson stormed out of the gate in the opening quarter, registering five shots with four on target. Palmer scored the lone goal of the opening quarter in her first start as a Mustang, taking a pass from Maring in the middle and ripping a chance home through traffic. 

With large chunks of possession, Stevenson used some potent offense and allowed just one shot from Cedar Crest over the initial 15 minutes. In the second quarter, Palmer ripped a low chance off a penalty corner that forced Rifino to make a kick save in the 17th minute. 

The Mustangs doubled their advantage at 2-0 in the second quarter with Maring working free for her second point of the afternoon. Maring knocked a Cedar Crest pass out of the air before dribbling free and ripping the shot into the inside right portion of the cage for a slick tally. 

Veronica Maring does it all here, knocking down the pass before dribbling free and scoring with a laser shot for a 2-0 Stevenson advantage! #d3fh #MACfh #StangNation pic.twitter.com/wmCYOtCNZK

— Stevenson University Mustangs (@GoMustangSports) September 5, 2022

Both sides worked in several substitutions as time melted away in the second quarter as Stevenson took a 2-0 lead into the intermission. The Mustangs held an 11-1 edge in shots heading into the half, placing eight shots on goal while drawing eight penalty corners. 

The Mustangs converted on their first penalty corner of the second half as Leakway netted her third of the season, expanding the lead to 3-0. Cedar Crest was awarded a penalty shot in the third with Amber Cieri lifting the chance over the net, preserving the shutout for the Mustangs. Rifino stood tall at the onset of the fourth quarter, denying scoring chances from Meghan Huey and Kosanovich. 

Not to be denied, Kosanovich extended the lead to 4-0 with a strong individual effort working through the Cedar Crest defense before placing a shot past Rifino in the fourth. In total, Stevenson racked up nine penalty corners on the afternoon. 

An impressive individual effort for Macy Kosanovich lifts the Mustangs to a commanding 4-0 lead. #d3fh #MACfh #StangNation pic.twitter.com/luUCLBNQJ7

— Stevenson University Mustangs (@GoMustangSports) September 5, 2022

UP NEXT

• Stevenson: The Mustangs continue their homestand on the new Owings Mills East campus, hosting McDaniel on Wednesday, September 7 at 5:00 p.m. 
• Cedar Crest: The Falcons return home on Sunday, September 11, hosting Eastern Mennonite at 11:00 a.m.