NEW LONDON, Conn. – Senior Courtney Peyko (Grand Isle, Vt.) scored her first career goal, which would also stand as the game-winning marker, in her final game as a collegian as the Connecticut College field hockey team concluded its 2019 season on a high note with a 2-1 victory over Wesleyan on a rain-drenched Wednesday night at Silfen Field.

Sophomore Meghan Gazard (Ashland, Mass.) had the first chance to score less than three minutes into the contest when she dribbled into the circle, but her shot was denied by Delaney Wood making a blocker save. However, the Camel forward still caged the first goal of the match following a failed clear attempt that was initially broken up by Peyko. Gazard eventually won the ball through a scrum on the right side and fired a shot that landed in the far corner of the cage at the 8:54 mark of the opening quarter.

Wesleyan (5-10, NESCAC 1-9) answered back 10 minutes later in the second quarter to tie the game. After an initial shot off a penalty corner by Olivia Baglieri was denied, Schwarz one-timed a loose ball from the right side to knot the score in the 19th minute.

Despite surrendering the equalizer, the Camels got one more back courtesy of Peyko and shortly after a corner. The senior tipped in a loose ball through a scramble on the left side of the goal.

The Cardinals kept persisting and had several opportunities to tie the game before the end of regulation. Sophomore Colleen Raftery (Dover, Mass.), however, made a key defensive save in the opening minutes of the second half off a shot by Amy Schaap, and junior goalie Andi McGraw (Sheffield, Mass.) made a diving save in the 56th minute to deny Olivia Balieri. Back-to-back penalty corner opportunities by the Cardinals in the final minute were also unsuccessful, allowing the Camels to survive and escape with the win.

McGraw picked up the victory by making seven saves for Connecticut College, which was outshot by a 9-7 margin and attempted just three of 14 penalty corners in the match. Caitlin Grant of Wesleyan suffered the loss for coming on in relief of Wood and surrendering the game-winning goal.

Connecticut College (3-12, NESCAC 1-9) graduates three seniors and is slated to return more than 15 letterwinners next season.