WASHINGTON, D.C. – The No. 4 Salisbury University field hockey team suffered a 2-0 loss at the hands of Catholic University of America on Wednesday night.

The game remained scoreless until late in the first half, with Salisbury having the better of the chances. Catholic earned a penalty corner just three and a half minutes into the match, but the Salisbury defense did not allow a shot attempt on the try. The Sea Gulls (6-2) came back the other way and controlled play over the next 15 minutes, getting nine penalty-corner chances and eight shot attempts – two each from senior Sam Johnson and juniors Hannah Miller and Becca Rinaca – but could not find the back of the cage.

Salisbury held a 13-5 edge in shot attempts over the Cardinals (7-3) in the first half, but Catholic would break through with the half's only goal in the 28th minute when Rachel Day found Taylor Elliott with a cross, and Elliott was able to get the try past sophomore goalkeeper Tressie Windsor for the 1-0 Cardinal lead.

In the second half, Salisbury again had more chances, with six shots to the Cardinals' two tries, but Catholic was able to get one of those shots in for the insurance tally, just three minutes into the second half when Hayley Wright blasted a shot from a corner insert by Elliott, doubling the lead.

One of Salisbury's best chances in the contest came with less than 17 minutes remaining in the game when Rinaca was led into the circle with a leading pass. Catholic goalkeeper Analisa Scott went to ground and got a piece of the try, but the ball popped into the air past her toward the goal. However, Catholic defender Sophie Maute recorded the defensive save, batting the ball out of midair to protect the two-goal lead.

Windsor recorded three saves for the Sea Gulls, while Scott stopped nine Salisbury shots and three different Cardinals made defensive saves.

The Sea Gulls will be off this weekend before traveling to Wesley College on Wednesday, October 14 for their first Capital Athletic Conference match of the year. The contest is slated to begin at 7 p.m.