Field Hockey Competitive with Preseason GNAC Favorite

STANDISH, Maine – Regis College held Saint Joseph's College scoreless through the entire first half, but the Monks struck quickly in the third quarter and then extended their advantage for a 4-1 victory over the Pride Saturday in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference field hockey match at the SJC Athletic Complex.

Saint Joseph's (5-1, 1-0 GNAC) created early offense, but Logan Champlin's shot three minutes into the contest was turned away by Pride goalie Hope Winkin (Winslow, Maine). The Pride put together a scoring opportunity just over two minutes later, but Sheridan Blaha's (Waltham, Mass.) shot was saved by Monk goalie Alexandria Simpson.

The Pride forced Simpson to make another save late in the first quarter, as Ashley Chipman (Stoughton, Mass.) started a penalty corner opportunity that eventually led to a shot by Nora Buck (Shawmut, Maine). The contest remained scoreless through the entire second quarter, with Winkin making a save on an opportunity by Emma Rutledge right before the halftime buzzer.

Just over a minute and a half into the third quarter, the Monks finally broke through, as Rutledge picked up a rebound and found Megan Quirion for the first goal of the match. With less than three minutes remaining in the quarter, Rutledge again corralled a rebound off her own shot, but this time her second attempt was successful, increasing the Monk lead to 2-0 heading into the final shot.

The Pride drew three penalty corner opportunities within the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter, and the third time was the charm, as Amelia Thomas (Hopkinton, N.H.) scored her second goal of the season off an assist by Mary Costantino (Abington, Mass.). Regis has a chance to tie the game just over one minute later, but Blaha's shot was stopped by Simpson.

The Monks quickly responded, drawing a penalty corner of their own with just over five minutes left in regulation. After an initial shot by Champlin was turned away by Winkin, Libby Pomerleau converted on the rebound to extend the home team's lead back to two at 3-1. Pomerleau would combine with Rutledge just over two minutes later for the final goal of the match.

Rutledge led all players with five total shots, including four shots on goal, as the Monks outshot the Pride, 17-6. Both Winkin and Simpson were credited with four saves apiece in net.

Regis (1-3, 0-1 GNAC) heads to Salem State for a non-conference match Tuesday, Sept. 17, beginning at 4 p.m. The Pride announced a schedule change affecting the Sept. 19 match against New England College, as the Pilgrims will now host the Pride in Henniker, N.H. for a 7 p.m. contest next Thursday.