BOSTON, MASS. - The New England College field hockey team dropped a hard-fought match to Simmons University 2-1 in a shootout. The Pilgrims sit at 7-1 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play. 

The Pilgrims tested the Sharks defense early as sophomore Kira Geddes (Bow, N.H.) and senior Cristina Manzi (Peapack, N.J.) fired shots on goal, both denied by goalkeeper Haley Bright. Manzi continued to press the attack, firing another shot late in the quarter, but Bright stood tall, keeping the game locked in a scoreless tie after the first quarter. 

Manzi kept the pressure on the Sharks' defense, ripping back-to-back shots that were turned away by Bright. Moments later, the Pilgrims earned a penalty corner, allowing Geddes to fire a dangerous attempt that Bright stopped. The Sharks responded as Hailey Brisson tested senior goalkeeper Makenzie Anderson (Antrim, N.H.) who came up with a clutch save to keep the score tied. The teams continued to battle, heading into halftime locked in a scoreless tie.  

The Pilgrims opened the third quarter on the attack, with Geddes launching a shot that was once again turned away by Bright. The 'Grims defense stood firm, shutting down the Sharks' offensive efforts keeping the score at 0-0 as the quarter came to a close.  

The Pilgrims broke the scoreless deadlock in the 49th minute, as senior Tatum Golis (New Hartford, N.Y.) buried a penalty stroke to give the visitors a 1-0 advantage. The 'Grims kept the offensive pressure on with Geddes and junior Adelaide Kelly (Rockport, Maine) each testing the Sharks' defense with strong shots that were turned away. The Sharks continued to battle, capitalizing on a penalty stroke to level the score at 1-1 with four minutes remaining in regulation. Both teams continued to fight, unable to break the deadlock, sending the match into overtime. 

The Sharks came out aggressive in the first overtime, with Avery Allaire and Katy Paveglio each firing shots that were turned away by Anderson. The Pilgrims quickly countered, as Manzi fired a dangerous shot that was stopped by Bright, keeping the score knotted at 1-1 as the first overtime ended. The intensity carried into the second extra period, with both teams trading chances that were denied by their respective goalkeepers. The teams could not find the game winner, as the match advanced to a decisive shootout.  

Lilly Taglieri opened the shootout with a successful strike, giving the Sharks an early 1-0 edge. Manzi answered, slipping the ball past Bright to level the score at 1-1. Both goalkeepers stood tall in the next round, turning away back-to-back attempts. Brisson sealed the win for the Sharks, converting the final shot to secure a hard fought 2-1 shootout victory over the Pilgrims. 

The Pilgrims continue GNAC action on Saturday as they travel to Franklin, Massachusetts to face Dean College with a 1:00 PM start. 

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