Denison University’s field hockey team opened the 2026 season with a 4-2 road loss to #20 Shenandoah University, ending the Big Red’s early hopes with a 0-1 record.
Opening Night at Shenandoah
The contest began with senior Emma Gebhart finding the net in the first quarter, giving Denison an early 1-0 advantage that they maintained heading into the second quarter without any penalty corners.
Denison extended the lead when sophomore Reilly Desmond added a second goal in the second quarter, pushing the score to 2-0, but Shenandoah responded with a penalty corner conversion in the 20th minute of that period, narrowing the margin to 2-1.
Despite Denison’s 12 total shots, including eight on goal, and a 6-5 edge in penalty corners, Shenandoah’s offense surged in the second half, with Therese Lucian making eight crucial saves to keep the Big Red in the game, yet the visitors ultimately pulled ahead 4-2 in the fourth quarter.
Shenandoah improved to 2-0 on the season, while Denison will look to rebound when they face the University of Lynchburg on September 6 at 11 a.m. in Winchester, Virginia.