PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Sophomore forward Ava Markham (Belfast, Maine) scored three goals and added an assist as Saint Joseph's College (1-0) opened the 2026 season with a 6-3 victory over Plymouth State University (0-2) in non-conference field hockey action at Panther Field on Thursday afternoon.
The six-goal effort is the Monks' highest-scoring season opener since Saint Joseph's defeated Wheelock College, 13-0, to begin the 2009 campaign. For Markham, the hat trick was the first of her NCAA career. She also established a career high with seven points in the triumph.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Markham opened the scoring just 3:04 into the contest, converting a feed from junior Katie Yeaton (Farmington, Maine) to give the Monks an early 1-0 advantage. Plymouth State answered just over a minute later when Abigale Bsullak tied the game at 4:14.
First-year forward Dasia Alberico (Skowhegan, Maine) quickly put Saint Joseph's back in front, scoring off a Markham pass just 36 seconds later for her first collegiate goal.
The Panthers pulled even at 2-2 late in the second quarter when Alex Zaino scored at the 28:10 mark, sending the teams into halftime deadlocked.
Saint Joseph's regained control early in the third quarter. Markham collected her second goal of the afternoon off a Zoey Lailer (Limington, Maine) assist at 34:21, and first-year midfielder Chloe Masse (Oakland, Maine) followed just 49 seconds later with her first collegiate tally to extend the Monks' lead to 4-2.
Plymouth State cut the deficit to one on a Lexi Berrettini goal at 47:38, but Saint Joseph's responded with a pair of insurance markers. Sophomore Myia SeeHusen (Corinna, Maine) scored off Lailer's second assist of the game at 51:12 before Markham completed the hat trick with 1:06 remaining, converting a SeeHusen feed to account for the 6-3 final.
TEAM STATS:
Plymouth State held advantages in shots (21-15), shots on goal (16-12), and penalty corners (13-7).
THE KEEPERS:
Saint Joseph's senior goalkeeper Kimberley McLaughlin (Lewiston, Maine) turned away 13 shots to earn the victory, while Plymouth State netminder Hannah Bub posted six stops.
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:
With the win, Saint Joseph's improves to 8-4 all-time versus Plymouth State University and has now defeated the Panthers in four consecutive meetings dating back to the 2017 season. The six goals are also the most scored by either team in the history of the series
NEXT!
Saint Joseph's returns home to host Springfield College on Saturday at 11:00 AM.
