GAFFNEY, S.C. â€" The Converse Field Hockey team took the field for the first time in program history on Thursday, August 31, but were upended 8-0 by the Limestone Saints. Competing a player down the entire match, Converse showed great resiliency and refused to let the contest get out of hand.

Freshman keeper Ciriaca Petitto was a bright spot for the Valkyries, posting an incredible 20 saves in her first collegiate contest. Bec Amedee anchored a stingy defense that allowed only three goals over the initial 35 minutes of action.

The early portion of the matchup was a back-and-forth affair as neither team could gain a definitive advantage on the offensive end of the field. However, the Saints pushed through with the game’s first goal at the 7:40 mark when Cassidy Coates found the back of the cage.

Converse settled in defensively and forced Limestone into a plethora of turnovers over the next 20+ minutes of play. A goal by Roos van den Berg with 28:19 left in the opening half pushed the Saints to a 2-0 lead, before a Cameron Felch score with 45 ticks remaining on the clock sent CC into the half down 3-0.

Limestone added a goal 1:40 into the second half and another at the 45:11 mark to sit comfortably ahead 5-0. Three goals in a five-minute span by the Saints capped off the scoring and handed Converse the 8-0 defeat.

Converse will make the quick turnaround to play host to Seton Hill on Sunday, September 3 at Spartanburg High School. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.