The Rhodes College field hockey team opened their season at Mason Field on August 31, 2024, with a challenging game against the Wellesley College Blues. The match showcased strong defensive plays and strategic penalty usage but ended in a narrow 1-2 defeat for Rhodes.

RECAP: RHODES VS. WELLESLEY
Rhodes took an early lead with a penalty stroke goal by senior Grace Utz at 7:09, capitalizing on a defensive foul by Wellesley. Despite this early advantage, Wellesley equalized with a field goal by River Schiff at 11:39. Schiff then scored again in the third period at 34:05 to give Wellesley the lead. The Lynx fought hard to recover, with intense back-and-forth play, but were ultimately unable to find the equalizer.

Key Performances:

• Grace Utz: Scored the lone goal for Rhodes with a penalty stroke, demonstrating her skill and composure under pressure.
• Catherine Gluodenis: Delivered a strong performance with five crucial saves, preventing further goals despite facing a high volume of shots.
• Izzy Hendricks: Made a pivotal defensive save, helping to keep Rhodes within striking distance.

The game was marked by Rhodes' strong defensive efforts and effective penalty corner strategies. Rhodes managed to secure eight penalty corners and had a total of ten shots, four of which were on target. However, despite these efforts and a robust defense, including six saves by Catherine Gluodenis, Rhodes could not hold off Wellesley's offensive pressure.

Team Statistics:

• Rhodes College: 10 total shots (4 on goal), 6 saves, 8 penalty corners.
• Wellesley College: 16 total shots (8 on goal), 4 saves, 9 penalty corners.

Looking Forward: Rhodes vs. Transylvania University and Washington and Lee University

The Rhodes will be traveling for their upcoming matches against Transylvania University on September 7, 2024, and Washington and Lee University on September 8, 2024. The Lynx are determined to bounce back from their recent defeat and will look to leverage their strong defensive capabilities and capitalize on their offensive opportunities in these pivotal games.

Historical Matchup Overview:

Rhodes vs. Transylvania University Rhodes College has an outstanding historical record against Transylvania University, highlighted by their 4-0 victory in their most recent matchup on November 5, 2022. The Lynx have dominated this series with an impressive streak of 26 consecutive wins against Transylvania, dating back to their first encounter on September 16, 2007. Rhodes boasts a perfect record of 13-0 at home and 11-0 away against Transylvania, with a remarkable average of 6.35 goals per game over these matchups. The Lynx have shown consistent performance and dominance in their games against Transylvania, including notable victories such as a 12-0 win on November 3, 2018, and a 10-1 victory on October 9, 2010.

Rhodes vs. Washington and Lee University In their recent history with Washington and Lee University, Rhodes College has maintained a perfect record with two wins. Their last encounter on September 5, 2014, saw Rhodes secure a 2-1 victory. The Lynx also won their first matchup against Washington and Lee on October 12, 2013, with a score of 3-2. Rhodes has demonstrated a strong competitive edge in these matchups, and they will look to continue this winning streak as they face Washington and Lee once again.

Upcoming Games:

• Date: September 7, 2024

• Opponent: Transylvania University

• Location: Lexington, Kentucky

• Time: 11:00 AM
   

• Date: September 8, 2024

• Opponent: Washington and Lee University

• Location: Danville, Kentucky

• Time: 11:00 AM