Nashua, NH - A year after making history with their own program debut, the Daniel Webster College field hockey team spoiled their oldest college rival's debut with a 2-1 victory.

DWC freshman Kyla Palaschak ripped a 15-yard shot past Rivier goalie Jenna Beadle (Rumney, NH) with 16:31 remaining in the second half and the Eagles held on for a 2-1 victory in their season opener before a raucous crowd of nearly 200 at recently opened Raider Field on the Rivier campus Thursday night.

It was the second straight season opening victory for Daniel Webster.

Palaschak's winner capped a comeback for the Eagles (1-0) who fell behind early to the first-year Raiders after Kristen Tyler (Thornton, NH) knocked home a direct shot just 3:29 into the contest.

The Eagles would tie it at one with 2:38 to go in the first half as sophomore Natalie Bates cut through three defenders and rifled a 10-yard bullet past Beadle.

The atmosphere was charged almost from the opening whistle, echoing the feel of a post-season meeting rather than a season opener, much less a program debut for the hosts.

Rivier buzzed over the first 28 minutes, finishing with a decisive 11-5 total shots advantage and would end with a 16-6 edge for the night. Both squads saw a number of quality scoring opportunities and tight play around the net, particularly in that first half. But Beadle held steady while sophomore Eagle back stopper Amy Prince made three quality first half stops on the way to finishing with five on the night.

Rivier will host Regis College on Tuesday, September 15 at 7:00 PM.  Then on Saturday, September 19, Rivier will hold its field blessing ceremony at 11:30 am, prior to the noon time field hockey contest against Husson College.