John Jay bounces back after shutout loss in first field hockey game of 2026

Finja Degl races for a loose ball for John Jay. JIM MACLEAN PHOTO

By JIM MACLEAN 

The John Jay field hockey team had high hopes for a big season, but the results were hot and cold for the Wolves in the first week of action. The Wolves were not anticipating the result at home on Tuesday, Sept. 8 against Yorktown as the rival Huskers came to town and cruised to a 4-0 victory.

After dropping the season opener 3-2 on the road at Kingston, John Jay rebounded with a 5-0 win on Friday in its home opener against Pawling, but the momentum from that win didn’t carry over to Tuesday as Yorktown took control early and dominated to hand the Wolves the shutout defeat.

“They (Yorktown) controlled it, and once our girls got into frantic mode they couldn’t get out of it and the other team took advantage of that,” John Jay coach Debbi Walsh said. “Yorktown always puts up a fight against us, and they played hard for every ball, they wanted it, they played smart, they played as a unit, they out hustled us. It’s back to the drawing board, and we’ll see what we can do for the next one, another tough one, a tough two weeks for us to start the season.”

John Jay came out strong and had a couple of corner opportunities in the opening minutes, but then Yorktown settled in and controlled the middle of the field and started to apply the pressure. 

Agonizing goal

Ava Ryan scored at the 12:02 mark to give the Huskers a 1-0 lead, and then came the heartbreaking goal with no time left on the clock as Izzy Wilson scored on a corner play to make it 2-0 at the half.

Yorktown added a pair of goals in the second half.  Fired up from the goal just before halftime, the Huskers came out flying to start the third period. After a pair of corner opportunities, Maddie Murray was able to score to make it 3-0 at the 8:20 mark. Ella Robustelli then scored at 10:21 as the Huskers wrapped up the 4-0 victory. The Huskers dominated possession and kept the pressure on the John Jay defense as goalie McKenzie Ryder had to make 22 saves for the Wolves. Husker goalie Sam Conboy was credited with seven saves in goal to record the shutout.

New game, new story

It was a different story on Friday, as John Jay came out fired up for the home opener and the Wolves dominated with a 5-0 shutout win over Pawling.

Anna Kringas led the way as she recorded the hat trick with three goals for John Jay. Senior Sophia Shaw also had a big game with two goals for the Wolves. Senior Callan Keeley had three assists, and Olivia Vosler added an assist for the Wolves.

Ryder needed to make just one save in goal to record the shutout. The Wolves kept the pressure on all game, as Eden Pitt had to make 15 saves in goal for Pawling.

In the season opener at Dietz Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 2, Kingston opened up a 2-0 lead in the first half and pulled out the 3-2 victory over the Wolves. Kringas and Sarah Swiderski scored goals in the second half as John Jay tried to rally, but the comeback fell short as the host Tigers pulled out the win.

Two tough road games

John Jay will have to find a way to bounce back in a hurry after the loss to Yorktown as the Wolves face two of their toughest games on the schedule in the coming week. First up, John Jay was scheduled to host Rye on Thursday, Sept. 10, and then the Wolves travel to Lakeland on Wednesday, Sept. 16. John Jay then travels to Pelham on Saturday, Sept. 19, before returning home to host John Jay of East Fishkill on Wednesday, Sept. 23.