RICHMOND, Ind. – Earlham College field hockey opened its North Coast Athletic Conference slate with a 4-0 victory over Allegheny College, Saturday afternoon at Darrell Beane Stadium.

Earlham improved to 7-5 overall, 1-0 in the NCAC, while Allegheny slipped to 1-10, 0-2 in conference. Saturday's victory over Allegheny was the Quakers' first win in a conference opener since the 2003 season, when Earlham downed Ohio Wesleyan, 3-2 in overtime, at Comstock Field to open that season's NCAC slate.

First year Hannah Grushon netted two goals for the Quakers to key Saturday's triumph, including what would be the game winner at the 12:58 mark of the second quarter when she put back a loose rebound off the pads of Gators' goalie Hallie Reiger. Sophomore Olivia Layne doubled Earlham's lead to 2-0 with 5:55 remaining in the second quarter, also burying a rebound past Reiger.

After a scoreless third quarter, Earlham tacked on a pair of insurance goals in the final frame.

Grushon tipped in a pass from junior Sofia Salvatore at the 9:29 mark of the fourth quarter to extend Earlham's lead to 3-0, and first year Torrie Studebaker capped the scoring with a penalty stroke goal at the 8:17 mark of the final stanza.

Earlham goalie Meg Murphy did not record a save during the day, while Reiger and reserve goalie Heather Amancio, who played the final two quarters, combined for eight saves. The Quakers tallied eight penalty corners during the contest, while the Gators had none.

Earlham field hockey continues NCAC play on Sunday, Oct. 13, when it hosts Oberlin College at 1:00 p.m. at Darrell Beane Stadium.