WESTON, Mass. – Sophomore Kelsey Morton (South Portland, Maine) scored a pair of second half goals, and Raegan Heck (Phillipston, Mass.) made six saves in a shutout as Regis College defeated Becker College, 2-0, on Tuesday night in New England Collegiate Conference field hockey action.
The Pride snap a seven game losing skid with the win and improve to 3-12 overall, and more importantly 2-2 in the NECC. Becker drops to 3-12 as well, and is now 2-1 in league games.
Becker had the first scoring chance of the game as Brittany Bebeau (Harrisville, R.I.) fired a shot from just inside the circle that was turned away by Heck. The rebound came out to Sara Rego (Bethel, Conn.) but Heck was there for the stop and the threat was avoided.
Regis then turned up the pressure, controlling play for the next 24+ minutes of action, taking seven shots and getting eight penalty corners. Walls set up Kelsey Morton for a shot on a corner attempt, but Gabrielle Gallo (Northport, N.Y.) was there for the stop. A minute later, Becka Sarson (York, Maine) got a shot off that was saved by Gallo, and Walls was there for the rebound, but was stoned by junior keeper.
Following a yellow card on the Pride, play shifted to the Regis end of the field as the Hawks took their turn controlling play. Becker earned three penalty corners, with the second leading to a blast from Bebeau that was stopped by Heck. On their final corner attempt, Bebeau tried to slip a shot past Heck opposite post, but Carla Brito (New Bedford, Mass.) made a defensive save to keep it a 0-0 game.
The Pride earned a penalty corner with no time remaining in the half, but Jenna Casello's (Westborough, Mass.) shot sailed wide and the game entered the half deadlocked at 0-0.
Regis controlled play early in the second half, earning another penalty corner and taking two more shots, but Gallo was there both times. Becker finally worked the ball back into the Pride end of the field, but an errant pass led to a free hit for Regis. Genesiz Gudiel (Lawrence, Mass.) struck a great ball that made its way all the way through the Becker defense and onto the stick of Laurie DeMars (Maynard, Mass.). DeMars worked her way into the circle and blasted the ball opposite post where Morton was waiting, and she tapped the ball into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead.
Becker threatened in the 52nd minute of play when Bebeau fired a shot from the top of the circle that was blocked away. She got the ball back, and fired again, and this time Heck was there for the stop. A few minutes later, Katherine Landanno (Winchendon, Mass.) fired a shot on net that deflected high off a Regis defenders stick and seemed destined for the back of the net. Heck leapt into the air and batted the ball away with her glove before it could cross the line to preserve the 1-0 Regis lead.
Regis got some breathing room in the 62nd minute after they earned a penalty corner. Walls played the ball into Sam Anderson (Sandwich, Mass.), who fired a shot on net that was saved by Gallo. Regis maintained possession and Casello dribbled around the top of the circle, eventually firing a shot that snuck by Gallo and connected with Morton for her second tally of the game.
The Pride controlled possession over the final seven minutes and held on for the 2-0 victory.
Regis outshot the Hawks at a 19-12 clip and had a 15-7 advantage in penalty corners. Heck picked up her third win of the year while making the six saves, while her counterpart Gabrielle Gallo made 12 saves in the setback. Brittany Bebeau led the Becker attack with eight shots, five of which were on goal.
The Crimson and Gold are back in action next Thursday when they travel to Fitchburg State University for a 7:00 p.m. non-conference tilt with the Falcons. Becker will try and rebound on Thursday when they return home to face Daniel Webster College at 4:30 p.m.