HENNIKER, N.H. – The New England College field hockey team opened their 2024 season with a resounding 6-1 victory over visiting University of Maine-Farmington on Saturday afternoon at Don Melander Field in Henniker, New Hampshire.
THE BASICS
Score: Maine-Farmington 1, New England College 6
Records: Beavers 0-2 | Pilgrims 1-0
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The 'Grims got on the board first when NEC senior midfielder Taylor Bailey (Boscawen, N.H.) took a deflected pass from graduate forward Drea Chin (Laconia, N.H.) off a penalty corner and slapped it in for her first goal of the season with 4:10 remaining in the first quarter, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead.
- The Beavers found the equalizer just 2:50 into the second off a penalty corner when sophomore forward Gabby Vincentsen (Bristol, Maine) found junior forward Abby Hanson (South Paris, Maine) streaking towards the NEC net for her first goal of the season, tying it up at 1-1.
- From there, however, it was all 'Grims. NEC surged into the lead with two goals late in the second to go into halftime up 3-1. At exactly one minute into the third quarter, junior forward Cristina Manzi (Peapack, N.J.) made a brilliant back-to-the-goal move, turning to her left from the edge of the circle and blasting it past the netminder for her first goal of the season to increase the lead to three then scored her second goal of the game in the final minute of the third quarter as the hosts would never trail again.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Drewa Chin finished the day with two assists. A three-time National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-Region recipient as well as a three-time All-Conference honoree, Chin's career totals now stand at 61 goals and 27 assists, leaving her one point short of the 150 career milestone.
- NEC junior goalkeeper Makenzie Anderson (Antrim, N.H.) picked up the win in net for the 'Grims, playing 49 minutes.
- UMF sophomore goalkeeper Ella Grant (Sturbridge, Mass.) posted a valiant effort in goal for the Beavers, tallying 17 stops on the day.
- NEC sophomore forward Adelaide Kelly (Rockport, Maine), a rookie standout for the Pilgrims in 2023, got off to a great start to her season with two goals and an assist.
- NEC senior midfielder Meaghan McCamish (Warwick, R.I.) scored the eventual game-winner, that coming 6:46 into the second quarter.
UP NEXT
- NEC is back on the field on Sunday when they complete their season-opening Classic as they host the Aggies of Delaware Valley University in a 12:00 p.m. game.
- Maine-Farmington travels to Mount Holyoke College for their next game, a 1:00 p.m. contest next Saturday against the host Lyons.
