HiHARTFORD, Conn. - Senior tri-captain Elle Fair (Westport, Conn.) scored the game's only goal on a penalty stroke 3:27 into the first quarter to lead the Trinity College Bantams to a 1-0 victory over the Catholic University of America Cardinals in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship Tournament on Sheppard Field this evening.  Trinity, ranked No. 9 in the nation, improves to 14-4 and will play The College of New Jersey in the NCAA Second Round at Middlebury College in Vermont on Saturday.  Catholic, making its first NCAA appearance since 2015, sees its season end at 11-8.

Fair was awarded the stroke moments after Trinity junior Jackie Frank (Longmeadow, Mass.) had the first shot of the game saved by Cardinal rookie goalie Abigail Kearney.  Fair, who was 2-for-3 on strokes entering the game, calmly flicked the ball low past Kearney for the only points the Bantams needed.  Kearney made three more saves in the first quarter, while the Trinity defense kept Catholic away from the cage and did not yield a shot in the first 15 minutes.

"We always talk about how important it is to get the first goal and we came out hot," said Fair. "For me, taking a penalty stroke is just like a foul shot in basketball.  I go in with a plan and if I execute it the way I should, it's going to be good."

Catholic's defense was also up to the task.  Liv Canterino made a defensive save for the Cardinals on a shot by Trinity's Katrina Winfield (Wilmington, Del.) six minutes into the second quarter and Kearney made another save on a Frank shot just before halftime.  Catholic nearly tied it with 1:35 remaining in the first half when Niki Micciche got by the Bantam defense and made a move on Trinity junior goalie Olivia McMichael (Glenside, Pa.) on the left wing, but McMichael denied her with her only save of the game.

Frank took the only shot-on-goal of the third quarter, and Kearney continued her stellar play with three more Cardinal stops including a diving save on Fair's second penalty stroke of the game with seven minutes left to play.  Trinity's Caelin Flaherty (Upton, Mass.( had her hard shot from the top of the circle off a penalty corner stopped by Catholic's Gracie Buford behind Kearney but the Bantams were awarded a stroke on the play.  Fair sent a low shot, similar to her earlier stroke, to Kearney's left but this time the Cardinal backstop got down to stop the ball.

Catholic did put some offensive pressure on the Bantams late despite not taking a shot in the second half, and a Cardinals had the ball inside the circle one last time in the final minute but were whistled for a foul.  Trinity's defense in front of McMichael was phenomenal, as the Bantams finished with a 23-to-1 shooting edge in the game.  Kearney was equally stout, finishing with nine saves.  Parmenter announced her retirement from coaching at the end of her 22nd season at Trinity this fall, and will get the chance to return to a second NCAA Final Four in as many seasons this weekend at Middlebury.

"Our defense has been so solid," said Fair.  "Olivia is incredible talking and communicating and our defenders are calm and patient and really stepped up today.  Having Anne as my coach has been the greatest experience I have ever had.  She is the most fearless leader we could ever ask for and she cares about all of us as individuals.  Anne knows the game so well and has helped us improve out technical skill so much. It is a special thing for us to give her a win in her last game at home."

"This was one of the strangest games," added Parmenter.  "I thought when we scored early we would come right back and score again but we didn't.  Catholic came to play, which I expected they would.  Our defense was lights out.  We moved the ball great but we just have to finish better.  I am glad we were able to hang on.  Losing my last game here on our field would have been a real kick in the teeth."