EMU's field hockey women improved to 3-1 in ODAC play Saturday afternoon, taking a 6-0 win from Sweet Briar on Homecoming.  The Royals scored four goals within the first 11:25 of the game and earned their second shutout of the year.

After pre-game ceremonies honoring the players' parents, as well as the team's three seniors (Carol Brinkley (Chester, Va./Thomas Dale), Mollie Lehman (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) and Mary Beth Danaher (Matoaca, Va./Matoaca), the women hit the scoreboard in the sixth minute.  Jenessa Derstine (Harleysville, Pa./Christopher Dock) slapped in a long shot off a corner, with an assist from Melissa Cox (Mountville, Pa./Hempfield).

Two minutes later, Cox got her own goal.  She then made it 3-0 in the 10th minute, getting a pass back from Brianna Kauffman (Harleysville, Pa./Christopher Dock) after inserting another penalty corner.  Camille Williams (Media, Pa./Delaware County Christian) then scored in the 12th minute to build the 4-0 cushion.

The Vixen had a solid start to the second half, getting four corners and a pair of shots in the span of three minutes, but Eastern Mennonite kept them out of the cage.

After a timeout, the Royals re-took momentum and added two more goals.  Derstine scored her second of the game in the 59th minute, getting an assist from Williams.  Brinkley then put in her first score of the season with eight minutes to play, getting a nice weakside cross from Derstine.

The women had a 32-3 edge in shots and 17-4 in corners.  Danaher made a pair of saves to earn the shutout.  Both Derstine and Cox had two goals and an assist.  For Lehman, it was also her first game back since Sept. 14 after missing the past seven with an injury.

Now 3-10 on the season, the Royals play their final non-conference game of the year on Monday.  They take on Rhodes on the neutral field of Washington and Lee in Lexington.  Game time is 4:00pm.