LOWELL, Mass. – It took a while for both teams to get used to the fast turf at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, but a fourth-quarter goal by Sheridan Blaha (Waltham, Mass.) was enough to give Regis College a 1-0 victory over Rivier University Thursday night in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference field hockey match at Cushing Field.
After Rivier controlled possession but failed to score early in the fourth period, Regis moved the ball to the other end of the field. After the Pride drew a penalty corner in the 52nd minute, Raider goalie Katie Olsen made a pad save on a shot by Joslyn O'Brien (Petersham, Mass.), but Blaha gathered the rebound and eventually found the back of the goal with her 14th tally of the season, breaking the school single-season record of 13 goals set by Aineen Callahan in 2016.
Neither team attempted a shot in the first period as both squads dealt with a ball that moved quickly over the blue turf. Regis earned the first two shots of the contest midway through the second period, but Nora Buck's (Shawmut, Maine) attempt rolled wide and Blaha's first shot of the night was stopped by Olsen.
The teams started to put together offensive threats in the third period, combining for nine penalty corners and six shots. However, both goalies kept the ball out of their respective net, as Olsen made two saves and Regis keeper Hope Winkin (Winslow, Maine) earned three saves in the third quarter.
Rivier (5-9, 2-4 GNAC) drew two more penalty corners in the final stretch of regulation, but the Raiders could not produce any scoring chances. In the end, Regis held a slight 8-7 advantage in shots, with Olsen ending up with five saves and Winkin collecting four saves in notching her second consecutive shutout and fourth shutout overall this season.
The Raiders host Lasell Saturday, Oct. 26, starting at 12 p.m. before closing the regular season at Anna Maria Wednesday, Oct. 30, beginning at 6 p.m.
Regis (5-10, 2-4 GNAC) plays its final regular season home match against Albertus Magnus Saturday, Oct. 26, also starting at 12 p.m. The Pride close out the conference schedule at Johnson & Wales Wednesday, Oct. 30, at 5 p.m.