FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The Frostburg State field hockey team hung tough on Tuesday afternoon in a close 3-1 defeat at Mary Washington in CAC action.
 
Gillian Ross scored just 1:23 into the match to give the Eagles (9-4, 1-2) a quick 1-0 advantage.
 
Moments later, the Bobcats (2-12, 0-3) tried to counter when senior Holly Van Wie took a shot that was saved by UMW keeper Jessica Cavolt.
 
Sophomores Sam Coffey and Gabby Rachuba had back-to-back shots at 10:45 and 10:51 saved by Cavolt as well. Frostburg attempted two more shots in the 17^th minute that were both turned away by Cavolt.
 
On the other end of the field, Bobcat junior keeper Sierra Smizer was putting together an impressive performance of her own. She kicked free two shots late in the 19^th minute and made four-consecutive saves between 25:54 and 26:03.
 
She closed the first half with a save on an Alaina Shivers attempt at 34:58. Smizer totaled 12 saves in the opening frame.
 
Smizer turned away four more shots over the first 13 minutes of the second half before Frostburg found the equalizing goal off the stick of senior Molly Pickard. Fellow senior Holly Van Wie was credited with the assist as the Bobcats made it 1-1 at 50:16.
 
FSU kept up the pressure on the offensive end as it attempted shots at 54:13 and 55:35 that forced Cavolt to make saves.
 
However, Mary Washington picked up the victory when Emma Claire Stewart scored at 65:58 and again at 68:04.
 
Smizer totaled 17 saves in the loss, her fourth game this season with 10 or more saves. Rachuba and Pickard each finished with two shots on goal.
 
Senior Cara Morrell and sophomore Brooke Lafayette each did their part to help the Bobcat defense as each registered a defensive save. Lafayette kept the ball from going into the cage at 65:19 off a shot from Shivers, while Morrell's save stopped a shot from Ross at 65:58.
 
The host Eagles outshot FSU 29-10 and held a 17-5 cushion in penalty corners.
 
Frostburg returns to action tomorrow at McDaniel at 7:00 pm.