SPARTANBURG, S.C.— The Bellarmine field hockey team may have started slowly, but it finished strong in running past the Converse Valkyries 4-1 on Friday evening in Spartanburg, S.C.
 
The host Valkyries jumped out on top with goal in the game's third minute when Daija Krygier converted a pass from Bo Linders.
 
The Knights got the equalizer in the 10th minute as Cassidy Sweeney assisted on a goal by Amber Hofenk Jerembo. 
 
The teams went scoreless for nearly 35 minutes until Bellarmine's Merit Harris suddenly got red-hot, scoring two goals in less than 30 seconds in the third quarter. 

Bellarmine closed out the scoring in the fourth quarter on an April Paulson goal with an assist by Harris.
 
"Converse had a great game today," said Bellarmine Coach Devanny Boisvert. "They are a young program that worked hard and fought the whole time.  We struggled to connect and find our rhythm in the first half, but our energy shifted in the third quarter with two goals from Merit."

While Harris took care of the bulk of the scoring, Boisvert credited freshman Lindsay Sturgeon with bringing a lift to the team.  "She was our spark today," Boisvert said.  "Once she stepped onto the field, the whole team energy changed."
 
Bellarmine controlled the action for the majority of the game, outshooting Converse 13-2 and holding an 11-1 edge in penalty corners.
 
The Knights have a short turnaround as they face Mount Olive at noon on Saturday in a game being played in Charlotte, North Carolina at Queens College.
 
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