By Chris Gionta
@Chris_Gionta
Springfield College field hockey defeated Clark University by a score of 4-0 at Stagg Field on Saturday afternoon.
It was a flawless day in the forecast on Saturday afternoon, with a temperature in the mid-70s and a swift breeze to complement it. It was also a flawless day for the Springfield field hockey team, who shut out Clark en route to a 4-0 victory.
Clark applied pressure the entire game, and early on especially. After about 10 minutes of game time passed, they found an opportunity. The Cougars ended up firing off a trio of shots on goal in less than a minute. Yet, Springfield goalkeeper Lyndsey DeLasho was able to deny all three attempts.
As the closing seconds of the first quarter approached, it seemed as though the Stagg Field attendants would be witnessing a scoreless first. However, on a late offensive attack by the Pride, forward Maddy Dunne shot the ball past the Clark goalkeeper’s left side with three seconds left in the quarter, making it 1-0.
The second quarter played out in a somewhat similar manner, except with less offensive attacks from Clark. The score remained the same until the final minute once again, until midfielder Audrey Dolan set up Gabby Inkel for what was the hardest-hit shot of the game. Fittingly, it hit the back of the goal with ferocity to make it 2-0, Springfield with 48 seconds left in the half.
Clark was once again on the attack in the third quarter, but nothing was able to get by DeLasho, this time, either. She gathered three saves before, when about midway through the third quarter, Dunne struck again with her second goal of the game, with this also being unassisted. The score remained, 3-0, Springfield, through the end of the quarter.
The final frame continued the theme of Saturday’s game. DeLasho had four saves, including a game-defining denial in which she performed a slide tackle on a Clark ball handler before she could get a shot off on a breakaway. Along with that, the Pride complemented the other three quarters by adding a goal, with this one coming from forward Emma McLaughlin by way of the assist from Inkel.
This was Springfield’s first shutout victory of the year, thanks to good defense and DeLasho’s 11 saves and perfect save percentage.
The Pride will look to continue the winning ways at Mount Holyoke on Tuesday at 7 p.m., as they do not have another home game until Thursday, Oct. 28 at 6 p.m. at Stagg Field against crosstown rival Western New England University.
Photo: Danielle Schmelling/The Student