HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata field hockey team hosted Alvernia for their home opener on Monday but were unable to give the home crowd a win.

In the first quarter, the Eagles defense was tested early as the Golden Wolves pressured them with eight shots. The second quarter was uneventful for both sides, but Juniata started to make sense of the Alvernia defense with a number of aggressive, offensive drives up the line. 

The second half of the game followed the same suit as the first, with back and forth plays by both teams. Defenders Sarah Everett (Spring Run, Pa./ Council Rock North High School) and Hanne Scheel (Furlong, Pa./ Central Buck West High School) made multiple blocks to keep Juniata in the game. 

Nicole Piccioni (Richfield, Pa./ Midd-West High School) held her own in the cage without allowing a goal during the first three-quarters of the game; she tallied five saves on the night. During the last quarter, the Golden Wolves were able to sneak one by Piccioni and her defense off a corner with seven minutes left in the final frame. 

The field hockey team will defend their home turf again on Friday, September 10th, against Bridgewater (Va.).