WESTON, Mass. - Regis College did what it needed to do to remain in contention for a spot in the upcoming conference tournament, defeating Albertus Magnus College, 2-0, Wednesday evening in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) field hockey match at Regis Stadium.
It took only one-and-a-half minutes for the Pride to jump on the scoreboard. After Regis attempted to advance the ball into the scoring area, Falcon goalie Ella Welton kicked it away from her. However, Mackenzie O'Shea (Sharon, Mass.) intercepted the clearing attempt and sent a shot past Welton into the net for her fourth goal of the season.
Regis continued to pressure the Falcon defense in the first quarter, earning six total shots, including three shots on goal, but Welton was able to keep the other two on-target attempts out of the net. The action stayed in the middle of the field in the second quarter as neither team was credited with a shot or a penalty corner, keeping the Pride ahead heading into halftime.
Less than three minutes into the third quarter, Frankie Alley (Gardner, Mass.) advanced the ball into the scoring area and sent it towards the goal, where O'Shea redirected it into the net for her second tally of the contest. It would become Alley's 16th career assist, tying her with Caitlin Connolly for most career assists in program history.
The Falcons created a couple offensive opportunities in the third quarter, matching the Pride with two shots in the period, including one by Mariya Helmbold that was turned away by Regis goalie Sarai Velez (Everett, Mass.). Regis maintained possession through most of the fourth quarter and took four shots, but only one of them was on target and Welton was able to handle it.
Velez earned her third victory and first career solo shutout as she played all 60 minutes in net for the Pride. Welton finished with three saves for the Falcons.
Regis (4-9, 3-5 GNAC) makes the short drive to Lasell University to face the Lasers Saturday, Oct. 19, starting at 1 p.m. It is a key match as both the Pride and Lasers are part of a tie for eighth place in the regular season standings. Albertus Magnus (1-12, 1-8 GNAC) hosts Anna Maria College Saturday at 10:30 a.m.