PRIDE CAPTURES FIRST NECC CHAMPIONSHIP

WESTON, Mass. – The Regis College field hockey team captured its first ever New England Collegiate Conference Championship with a 3-1 victory over Anna Maria College on Saturday afternoon in Weston, Mass. Cheyenne Genga (South Windsor, Conn.) scored a pair of goals and had an assist to propel the Pride to its first Conference Championship in any sport since 1995. The AMCATS wrap up their season at 8-12 overall while the Pride improved to 8-10 in 2011.

Anna Maria came out firing to start the game as Katherine Bant (Johnstown, N.Y.) took a pair of shots and Marybeth McClune (Worcester, Mass.) added one of her own in the first two-and-a-half minutes of play. Once Regis finally gained possession, Cassie Langone (Chichester, N.H.) carried the ball upfield and found a streaking Sashae Walls (Everett, Mass.), who fired a pass into the circle that found the stick of Cheyenne Genga and the freshman buried the ball opposite post for the early 1-0 lead.

Anna Maria's best chance early came when McClune fired the ball on the net and it found its way past Regis keeper Morgan Mitchell (Ashburnham, Mass.), however Chelsea Morrison (Windham, N.H.) made a defensive save to keep it a 1-0 game. Later in the first half, Genga made it a 2-0 lead headed into the half as she dribbled the ball through the AMCATS defense and fired the ball opposite post again for her second tally of the game.

Headed into the break, both teams had attempted four shots apiece while Anna Maria held a 4-1 advantage in penalty corners. Morgan Mitchell made a pair of saves while her counterpart Marita Steinmetz (Grafton, Mass.) made one.

Both teams traded possession for the first 20 minutes of the second half before Genga dribbled down the end line and found an open Sashae Walls in front to give the Pride a 3-0 cushion. Anna Maria called a timeout following the goal that worked as the AMCATS made it a 3-1 game as Katie Schebel (Ludlow, Mass.) fired a shot on net that was tipped in by Brooke Denver (New Britain, Conn.). It was too little too late however as the Pride earned five penalty corners over the final 10 minutes of action to seal their first NECC Championship.

Regis held a 13-9 edge in shots for the game and held a similar advantage in corners, 12-9. Morgan Mitchell made four saves in her sixth win of the season while Steinmetz made four stops in the contest. Chelsea Morrison and Victoria Pappas (Niantic, Conn.) each picked up defensive saves for the Pride.

Regis' Stacy Burns (Waltham, Mass.) was named the NECC Tournament MVP for her play during the postseason. Joining her on the All-Tournament team were teammates Meghan Robohm (Easton, Mass.), Cheyenne Genga and Kym Kerr (Uxbridge, Mass.). Anna Maria was represented by Katherine Bant, Katie Schebel, Brooke Denver and Kelsey Donnelly (Lakeville, Mass.). Becker College had two All-Tournament members in Victoria Sirchia and Cameron Rogers, while Wheelock's Despina Svvoulides and Chelsey Ballard rounded out the All-Tournament Team.