John Jay Field Hockey Pounds Panas in Opening Round

CROSS RIVER, N.Y. - On Friday, Oct. 25, John Jay opened sectional play by hosting Panas and Halloween was partly in the air. Not necessarily tricky, the treats were ample and kept coming.

Catherine Natko scored in the first minute, added two more, and the Wolves went onto an easy 8-1 victory.

On the bench sideline, the game began with a John Jay steal, and Kaycie Keeley picked up the slack. She drew the defense, put the ball on Natko’s stick, and the tip in was easy.

Three minutes later, Keeley had Panas doing a double take. Only she took it herself after cruising down the sideline and rang the bell with her shot off the crossbar. The inside part and John Jay led 2-0 at 11:08.

Panas did manage to force a penalty corner three minutes later. But Molly Gallagher didn’t even get a chance at a save, and Jojo Degl went to work on the other end. 

First, she put a pair of shots on Alina Cavajani in goal and soon cashed in on the dry runs. Keeley received the penalty corner outlet from Finja Degl, passed to Jane Brennan and she came inside to Jojo. Free on the circle, the senior swiped and broke the box at 1:44 of the first. 

Onto the second, Jojo Degl continued to keep the Panas goalie honest. She put another shot on goal at 11 minutes and then forced a penalty corner. 

Panas recovered but Keeley came back and put another shot on Cavajani. Coming down alone on the left, the co-captain swung a backhanded swipe and rang the metal again. On target, the projectile gave the Wolves a 4-0 lead at 9:27.

On the same side five minutes later, Finja Degl increased the lead to five, and any doubts remaining, Sophia Shaw knocked the last bit of wind out of the Panas cause at 4:21. 

Jojo Degl’s shot kicked up, Shaw’s stick grabbed some air, and the tip was perfectly executed for goal six. Two goals later by Natko and John Jay readied for the next round.