PAXTON, MASS. - The New England College field hockey team earned an 8-0 victory on Wednesday evening in convincing fashion at Caparso Field in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action from Paxton, Massachusetts.
THE BASICS
Score: New England College 8, Anna Maria College 0
Records: Â Pilgrims 6-1, 2-0 GNAC | AMCATS 0-5, 0-2 GNAC
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Pilgrims engaged their offensive attack rather quickly with the first goal of the game occurring in just the first 1:16 of action. NEC sophomore forward Adelaide Kelly (Rockport, Maine) advances the ball into AMCAT territory to find junior forward Cristina Manzi (Peapack, N.J.) dead center in front of the goal. Allowing her to make a move to pass the ball that found its way to senior midfielder Meaghan McCamish (Warwick, R.I.) that placed McCamish in a one-on-one situation with the AMC sophomore goalkeeper Carly Dedrick (Manchester, N.H.) ultimately finding the back of the net for first 'Grims goal.
- Â Things didn't cease there for NEC scoring shortly after as NEC was bestowed a penalty corner that they put into the hands of none other than senior midfielder Taylor Bailey (Boscawen, N.H.). Once Bailey passed the ball in it found its way over to graduate forward Drea Chin (Laconia, N.H.) who fired a pass into scoring position that set up Kelly to tap the ball in for yet another NEC goal.
- Scoring for the 'Grims in the first quarter was capped off by pelting Dedrick with a number of shots that concluded with sophomore forward Kylee Henriquez (Methuen, Mass.) who just previously recorded her first collegiate hat trick to get involved in the scoring this evening with a goal of her own that was assisted by McCamish.
- The AMCATS picked up the tempo from a defensive perspective standing stout not allowing the 'Grims to find the back of the net in the second quarter of play but it didn't come easy as Dedrick was standing on her head acting as a brick wall saving a total of 11 shots to keep the deficit where it stands from there end with the 'Grims up 3-0 going into halftime.
- In the third quarter NEC managed to pick up back where they left off as the next goal came off yet another penalty corner opportunity with Bailey setting up Manzi beautifully from the top left corner for a 4-0 lead at 8:21.
- Right before the third quarter ended the offense kept the defense on its toes for the last five minutes of play with a continuous stream of shots taken with none bigger than the one that was taken at 1:43 as sophomore midfielder Kacey McClay (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) scored her first collegiate goal of her career that wrapped things up at 5-0 with NEC still in control.
- The onslaught of scoring continued to pile on in the final quarter of play with Kelly scoring almost immediately in the first minute at 14:24 powering her way down the field to put the sixth goal of the evening in the back of the net.
- Kelly's night wasn't done quite yet scoring the next following goal thanks to Manzi's efforts pushing the ball down the right side of the field to assist Kelly in tabbing the sophomore's first hat trick of her young collegiate career.
- NEC kept their foot on the gas for one more goal as penalties proved to play a factor in this conference outing with Bailey targeting Chin top center of the goal putting the game away at 4:33 finishing things in convincing fashion with an 8-0 conference victory of Anna Maria College.                                                                                   Â
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- As stated earlier, penalty corners for NEC definitely left their mark on the evening out classing the AMCATS in that category recording 11 to AMC's measly two. Â
- Shots was another category the 'Grims displayed their dominance in firing an impressive 45 while AMC only managed to get off three.
- AMC's Dedrick did all she could for the AMCATS, concluding her night with an outstanding 31 saves gathering 16 of them in the second half.
- It was an easy day at the office for NEC junior goalkeeper Makenzie Anderson (Antrim, N.H.) only needing to compile one save. NEC sophomore goalkeeper Amy Philbin (Long Island, N.Y.) got the chance to step out onto the field for the 'Grims in the fourth quarter.
- Four different 'Grims scored for the team on the evening with the most notable goals coming from Kelly who claimed her first hat trick of her career and McClay scoring her first collegiate goal.
UP NEXT
- NEC comes back to Don Melander Field for their next game as they'll be hosting a non-conference game against the Panthers of Plymouth State University under the lights at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday.
- AMC has a quick turnaround ahead of themselves as they'll be hosting Dean College at 12:00 p.m.
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