WHEELOCK HANDS PRIDE FIRST NECC SETBACK

WESTON, Mass. – Regis College dropped a 4-0 decision to visiting Wheelock College on Tuesday night in New England Collegiate Conference field hockey action in Weston, Mass. The Pride drop to 3-4 overall with the setback and 1-1 in NECC matches, while the Wildcats improve to 3-4 and 1-0 in league games.

The Wildcats wasted no time breaking into the scoring column as Elizabeth Cooper (Mansfield, Mass.) tipped home a quick shot from Katie Frade (Dartmouth, Mass.) for the game's first goal only 1:50 into the contest. Regis worked possession back into the Wheelock half of the field and Laurie DeMars (Maynard, Mass.) got off a pair of shots, with Jenna Casello (Westborough, Mass.) adding one of her own, but Cassidy Smith (South Berwick, Maine) was up to the task and kept the Pride off the board.

Wheelock was able to change fields and grabbed a 2-0 lead at the 17:54 mark of the first half. Katie Frade worked the ball deep into the Regis circle and passed the ball along the goal line to Anissa Girard (Claremont, N.H.). Girard used a nifty spin move to lose her defender and slipped the ball inside the back post to put the visitors on top by two.

The Pride threatened again in the 24th minute of action as Ashley Ryan (Mashpee, Mass.) received a pass inside the circle, but the junior's shot could not get past Smith as the Wildcats took a 2-0 advantage into the overtime.

Wheelock put the game away for good only three minutes into the second period as Abbey Raymond (Salem, N.H.) played a ball in front to Katie Frade for a wide open shot to give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead. Almost a minute later, Cooper potted her second tally of the game when Alexandria LeBlanc (Atkinson, N.H.) slipped a pass by the Regis keeper and onto the stick of Cooper to round out the scoring in the game.

Regis had one final shot at a goal in the 59th minute as Casello and Aineen Callahan (Diamond Point, N.Y.) worked a give-and-go off a Pride penalty corner. Callahan was able to sneak a pass to Jeszy McGuire (Brimfield, Mass.) for a one-timer on an open net, but the freshman's shot sailed wide. Wheelock controlled possession the rest of the game and held on for the 4-0 win.

The Wildcats held a 19-10 advantage in shots and attempted nine penalty corners to only three for Regis. Cassidy Smith made six saves in her third win of the year for Wheelock, while Raegan Heck (Phillipston, Mass.) made six saves of her own in 38:26. Maresa Malcolm (Barrington, N.J.) played the final 31:34 and made three saves.

Both teams are in non-conference action on Thursday night as Regis hosts Fitchburg State University at 4:00 p.m., while Wheelock hosts Lasell College at 7:00 p.m.