HENNIKER, N.H. – New England College field hockey secured a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) victory over Dean College on Saturday night, earning a 3-0 shutout while supporting multiple sclerosis (MS) awareness.
The opening seven minutes featured back-and-forth play before freshman Molly Goodwin put the Pilgrims' first shot on goal at the eight-and-a-half-minute mark. Goodwin followed with another attempt, sparking the 'Grims' offensive pressure. In the 13th minute, following a third consecutive penalty corner, senior Adelaide Kelly (Rockport, Maine) found the back of the cage off an assist from junior Kennedy Overhoff (Whitefield, N.H.) to give NEC a 1-0 lead heading into the second period.
Kelly opened the second period with another shot as the Pilgrims continued to apply pressure. Dean earned its first penalty corner of the game, giving Mya Dixon an opportunity to shoot from the top of the arc. However, senior Lauren Hall (Belfast, Maine) made a crucial defensive stop, putting her body in front of the ball to preserve NEC's lead heading into halftime.
Dixon took the Bulldogs' second and final penalty corner in the 31st minute of the third period. The Pilgrims continued to control the pace of play, outshooting Dean 5-2 in the period, while senior Annie Raduazzo (Amherst, N.H.) recorded her lone save of the game to keep the Bulldogs off the scoreboard.
NEC carried its momentum into the final 15 minutes of regulation. With eight minutes remaining, sophomore Mary Kelley (Cumberland, R.I.) inserted a penalty corner that found senior Kameryn Mazzulli (Waterford, Conn.), who fired the ball into the cage for her second goal of the season and an insurance goal for the Pilgrims. After two more shots on goal, Goodwin added the final tally to secure the 3-0 victory.
The Pilgrims finished with 16 shots on goal compared to Dean's two, completing a perfect 3-0 week. NEC now sits at 9-5 overall and looks to carry its momentum into Wednesday, Oct. 21, when it hosts Colby-Sawyer at 7 p.m.
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