Box Score DUDLEY, Mass.—Gordon Field Hockey used a Karli Balmer score in the second half to eek by the visiting Houghton Highlanders. The two teams battled to a defensive stalemate in the first half and Balmer's shot off of a penalty corner ended up as the deciding factor in Gordon's 1-0 victory over the Highlanders.
 
A home game on the schedule, Gordon was forced to play their "home opener" on the road at Nichols College. The Fighting Scots settled in early to their new atmosphere and seemed to find comfort in the defensive battle.
 
After a scoreless first half, the Gordon sticks awoke from the shadows—getting six shots off in the second half against the Highlanders stubborn defense. They finally broke through the chains with the junior Balmer's strike into the bottom of the goal box.
 
Gordon hunkered down for the remainder of the contest and gutted out the narrow victory. Shannon Hicks was credited with five saves in the shutout for the Scots.
 
The Fighting Scots will be on the road next Friday when they travel up to Gorham, Maine to take on the Southern Maine Huskies.