Strong Second Half Sends Springfield Past Blue Field Hockey, 4-1

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Springfield College scored four unanswered goals to rally from a 1-0 deficit and defeat Wellesley College field hockey, 4-1, in New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play on Saturday afternoon at Stagg Field. 

Senior Taylor Conley (Yarmouth Port, Mass.) scored twice and junior Taylor Low (Longmeadow, Mass.) had three assists as the Pride improved to 8-6 overall and 2-3 in the NEWMAC with the win. Junior Carson Dennis (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.) scored for the Blue, who are now an even 7-7 overall and 3-3 in NEWMAC match-ups. 

Springfield dominated the opening half, outshooting Wellesley, 10-0, through 30 minutes of play. However, Wellesley goalkeeper Janelle Sullivan (Philadelphia, Pa.) made seven stops for the Blue to send the game into the half scoreless. 

Dennis broke through for Wellesley 5:26 into the second half, scoring on a penalty corner set-up from classmate Danielle Brubaker (Princeton Junction, N.J.). Dennis now has six goals in her last six games and is tied for the team lead in goals with nine. 

Unfortunately for the Blue, the lead was short lived. Conley responded with her first at 37:54, scoring an unassisted marker to tie the game. After tying the game, it only took the Pride 24 seconds to take the lead, as Low set-up first year Audrey Bresciano (Greenfield, Mass.) for the go-ahead goal at 38:18. 

Leading 2-1 entering the fourth, Springfield added two more goals to put the game out of reach. Low found Conley for her second 3:06 into the period to make the score 3-1. The Pride capped the scoring with 1:10 left in regulation when Low assisted on sophomore Kyra Ashe's (Longmeadow, Mass.) effort to make the final 4-1. 

Sullivan finished the game with nine saves for the Blue, as the Pride had an 18-9 advantage in the game. Wellesley outshot the hosts, 9-8, after the break but junior Elizabeth Morehouse (North Attleboro, Mass.) finished with four stops to earn the win. 

Wellesley will take on MIT in NEWMAC play in the team's next game on Tuesday evening, October 22, at 6:00 PM. Springfield will host Clark on Tuesday at 4:00 PM.