HOUGHTON, N.Y. – The 2025-2026 academic year started for Neumann University athletics with a 5-0 Field Hockey win over Alfred University, earning Dana Ott her first win as Head Coach of the program.
 
Cadence Conti led the attack with a three-goal onslaught on four shots on goal. Meghan Sheldrick added a goal with four shots. Caley Gee went untested to her the shutout, the third of her collegiate career.
 
The Knights controlled play for much of the start of the match and broke through with 9:24 left in the first quarter. Neumann was awarded two consecutive penalty corners, and on the second one, Conti was able to slap in a Gabriella Cappelli pass for an early 1-0 lead. 42 seconds into the second, the Knights again took advantage of a corner as Natalie Hackett took a skip pass across the circle from Natalia Thomas and deposited her first collegiate goal to double the advantage on the scoreboard heading to the break.
 
Neumann continued to possess in the third and halfway through the quarter, Meghan Sheldrick scored her first of the season to make it 3-0. In the fourth, Conti, in the 57^th minute, put up two goals in 38 seconds to complete her second career hat trick and seal the victory.
 
Neumann (1-0) will quickly return to action on Saturday afternoon when they take on the hosts for this weekend's showcase, Houghton University, for a noontime start.