NEWS

Sib Naaktgeboren scored the 'Cats third goal.

DAVIDSON — The Davidson field hockey team closed out the season on a high note Sunday afternoon, earning a 3-2 win over Ohio.

The victory completed the Wildcats' first weekend sweep of the season and secured their seventh win. It's Davidson's most wins in a season since the 2015 team won eight.

'Cats celebrating their third goal, closing the door on Ohio.

"I think this game was a really good representation of the fight we've had this season," said coach Zoe Almquist, whose team finished 7-11. "We talked before the game about how we had the opportunity to just lay it all out there on the field. We knew it was our last game, and we knew we wanted to go out in a way that represented our play and who we are. I think we did a really great job of that."

The Wildcats built a 3-1 lead by the intermission, then held off some late Ohio threats, including a shot in the closing seconds that goalkeeper Cato Roell rejected.

Hannah Merritt got the Wildcats on the board with a goal 7:04 into the game, scoring near-post on a breakaway.

The Wildcats then made it 2-0 with 11:19 left in the second quarter, when Sib Naaktgeboren fired a ball into the circle and Abby Pompeo redirected it into the cage. It was Pompeo's team-best eighth goal of the season, the most for any Wildcat since 2016.

After Ohio (6-9) scored, Pompeo and Naaktgeboren connected again. This time, Pompeo played the ball ahead to Naaktgeboren, who finished in transition for her seventh goal of the season.

Ohio's Katelyn Whittle, who leads the MAC with 18 goals, scored with 13:11 left in the fourth, and it was her shot in the closing moments that Roell saved to preserve the win. Roell finished with seven saves.

Prior to the game, Davidson honored Roell and seven other seniors: Susannah Armstrong, Genna Barge, Campbell Hickman, Annie Hirshman, Evie Lake, Sarah Minges and Ellie Taylor.