PRIDE MOVES TO TOP OF NECC STANDINGS WITH 4-3 WIN

BOSTON, Mass. – The Regis College field hockey team fought off Wheelock College for a 4-3 win in New England Collegiate Conference action on Saturday afternoon. The Pride (7-7, 5-2 NECC) moved to the top of the NECC standings with the win over the Wildcats (6-7, 4-2 NECC).

Mackenzie Cattaruzza (Guilford, Conn.) opened up the scoring for the Pride with an unassisted tally in the ninth minute of the game. Kelsey Morton (South Portland, Maine) pushed the Pride lead to 2-0 in the 21st minute with her fourth goal of the season.

Jeszy McGuire (Brimfield, Mass.) set up Laurie DeMars (Maynard, Mass.) with a goal in the 25th minute as the Pride took a commanding 3-0 lead. Wheelock answered right back two minutes later as Emma Panto tallied on a feed from Elizabeth Cooper as the Wildcats entered the break trailing 3-1.

The home team cut the deficit to only one goal in the 50th minute of the game as Jen Ryan potted a goal off the stick of Courtney Scherer. Kelsey Morton netted her second of the game 10 minutes later for an insurance goal to put the Pride on top 4-2, which would prove vital as the Wildcats scored two minutes later on a Katie Frade goal to make it a 4-3 game.

Wheelock had one final chance in the 69th minute of the game off a penalty corner, but Jen Ryan's shot attempt was blocked down, and time expired on the game.

Wheelock outshot the Pride at a 14-11 clip and attempted seven penalty corners to only three for the Pride. Raegan Heck (Phillipston, Mass.) made three saves on the day for her seventh win of the year. Cassidy Smith stopped six shots in the setback.

Regis is back in action on Tuesday night as the Pride celebrate their annual senior night with a 7:30 p.m. game against Elms College.