CHESTERTOWN — Senior Kat Esposito joined the elite 40-goal club Wednesday with a pair of scores that helped Washington send conference rival McDaniel home saddled with a 5-0 loss.
Only three other Shore ladies have scored 40 or more career goals on the hockey pitch — All-American Laura Scimeca ’05 (58), Chestertown’s own Christyl Arrabal ’00 (43) and Nicole Maccari ’01 (41). Scimeca and Arrabal are members of the Washington College athletic hall of fame.
It’s quite an accomplishment for the former Severna Park High School standout, who missed all of last season because of injury.
On Wednesday, Esposito led all players with 11 shots, including seven on frame.
Her third shot of the game produced Washington’s first goal, and what held up as the winning goal, in the 11th minute. She redirected a pass from MaryCate Anson into the left side of the cage.
Washington (6-4) tacked on four insurance goals in the second half to level its Centennial Conference record at 1-1.
Emma Campbell made it 2-0 in the 34th minute.
Esposito netted her 40th career goal in the 49th minute (on an assist from Campbell) and set up Samantha McMahon about two and a half minutes later to stretch the lead to 4-0. She leads the team with nine goals and 20 points.
Freshman Natalee Kunkel, in her collegiate debut and on her first-ever shot, closed out the scoring in the 58th minute.
Washington finished with 26 shots, including 14 on goal, and 15 penalty corners.
McDaniel (2-8, 0-4 CC) did not have a shot.
UP NEXT: Washington travels to Haverford on Oct. 9 for another Centennial Conference matchup.
The next home game is Oct. 16 against No. 4-ranked Johns Hopkins, the five-time defending conference champion.