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New England College

Cristina Manzi
Photo: Frank Poulin
Cristina Manzi
0
Simmons SIMMONS (13-3, 7-1)
1
Winner New England Col. NEW ENGL (12-3, 7-0)
Simmons SIMMONS
(13-3, 7-1)
0
Final
1
New England Col. NEW ENGL
(12-3, 7-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Simmons SIMMONS 0 0 0 0 0
New England Col. NEW ENGL 0 0 0 1 1

Game Recap: Field Hockey |

Manzi’s Late Game Heroics Continue; Field Hockey Surges Past Simmons

HENNIKER, N.H. – The New England College field hockey team picked up a key victory against visiting Simmons University in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Saturday afternoon at Don Melander Field in Henniker, New Hampshire. In a battle of top four teams in the GNAC standings entering the day, the 'Grims came out on top with strong defense and a timely goal.  

THE BASICS 
Score: Simmons University 0, New England College 1 
Records: Sharks 13-3, 7-2 GNAC | Pilgrims 12-3, 7-2 GNAC 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

  • After a scoreless first quarter, the game's first prime scoring opportunity came just 40 seconds into the second. An NEC penalty corner granted shots on goal to both junior forward Cristina Manzi (Peapack, N.J.) and senior midfielder Meaghan McCamish (Warwick, R.I.), but Simmons goalkeeper Haley Bright (Norfolk, Mass.) denied both attempts to keep the game scoreless. 
  • The visitors would control the time of possession for most of the second quarter, earning a pair of penalty corners that did not amount to a goal but carried momentum into halftime. Coming out of the break, momentum remained on the Shark's side as they earned three penalty corners and put a shot on target, but the NEC defense stood tall and junior goalkeeper Makenzie Anderson (Antrim, N.H.) kept the Sharks off the board. 
  • With 8:40 left in the fourth quarter, and overtime once again looming, an intercepted pass by sophomore midfielder Isabelle Toupin (Derry, N.H.) gave the 'Grims possession on the Shark's side of the field. Toupin immediately found Manzi who worked around a pair of defenders before launching a shot on net and scoring the game's first goal.  
  • In the final minute of the game, the GNAC's leading scorer, Simmons' Anna Tedeschi (Hanover, Mass.), managed to get a shot on net but Anderson punched it away and out of trouble. The 'Grims would hold on for the final 55 seconds of action to secure their seventh conference win of the season. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

  • Anderson made four saves in net for the 'Grims en route to her fourth shutout of the season. This marks the first time all season that Simmons has been shutout.
  • Bright stopped five shots for the Sharks while sustaining just her second loss this year. 
  • Manzi netted her second game-winning goal of the week after her walk-off winner against Rivier on Wednesday. She is now up to eight goals and 20 points on the season. 
  • Simmons came into today's action with the conference's two leading scorers: Tedeschi and Sydney Gonyea (Lebanon, N.H.) who have combined for 45 goals this season. The 'Grims defense managed to slow them both down, holding them to a combined three shots and zero goals.
  • The Pilgrims handed the Sharks just their second conference loss of the season. The two teams now both sit at 7-2 in GNAC play with three regular season games to go. 
  • The 'Grims know how to defend their home turf; NEC has allowed just four goals in eight home games this season. 

UP NEXT 

  • NEC is back on the field on Tuesday, October 22nd, when they travel to Regis College for a 7:00 PM GNAC matchup. 
  • Simmons plays their next game at Dean on Tuesday with a 3:30 PM start. 

For continuing coverage of New England College Athletics, visit athletics.nec.edu and follow the Pilgrims on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.  

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