By Nick Pantages and Callan Wikander
On Tuesday night, a pair of Springfield College teams picked up key home wins in the first-round of the NEWMAC playoffs.
First, in a grueling game on Stagg Field, the Springfield College field hockey team prevailed with a 2-1 victory over Salve Regina.
After a couple of early chances where the Pride barely missed the opener, they found it just over five minutes into the opening period. Hailey Gaydos smacked a ball towards the Salve Regina net, and first-year sensation Rachel Simkewicz found the back of the net, giving the Pride an early lead.
This lead did not last long however, as Salve Regina’s Georgia Costello levelled the score with a backhand shot that went just over the shoulder of Springfield’s first-year goalie, Sam Orcutt.
From there on, the Pride’s defense, led by senior Nicolette Morlock, anchored Springfield’s defensive half. Orcutt rebounded nicely as well, saving the Seahawks final five shots on net.
The decisive goal came in the third quarter, with senior forward Audrey Hayes scoring her second goal of the season to give the Pride the lead.
After a flurry early in the fourth quarter from Salve, including Orcutt making two crucial saves, the Pride’s stout defense did not allow a shot from Salve for the final 10 minutes of the game.
Springfield will now take on national powerhouse and No. 3 ranked Babson, the top seed in the NEWMAC, on Thursday night. Despite Babson’s record, the Pride had success in their matchup this season, scoring on the Beavers, which was one of only three NEWMAC goals they allowed in conference play, and allowing just two goals in a game where Orcutt made 11 saves.
Meanwhile, the No. 2 ranked Springfield Pride women’s soccer team steamrolled to an opening round quarterfinal win versus No. 7 ranked Coast Guard.
The action started off how most of the Pride’s games usually do, with a strong offensive attack out of the gate while also allowing little to no pressure on Coast Guard’s offensive attack.
Springfield’s offense heated up after Kaitlyn Suller blew by Coast Guard’s defense and went 1-on-1 with their goalie, where Suller came out on top and scored a dribbler that rolled into the right side of the goal. She was assisted early on by Lauren Durrell.
At the 24 minute mark, Coast Guard had a rare offensive attack going where a blocked shot by sophomore goalie Mairead Marsden deflected back in front of the empty goal and was finished off by Mia Forti.
Springfield moved the ball well all game, creating a lethal passing attack that led to many of their scores, including a goal by Suller again at the 7 minute mark of the first half. Suller was led up the field by a beautiful through ball by Rosie Turbett. Suller gained possession and took it into the box, hooking a beautiful shot that the goalie couldn’t get to and scored her second of the night.
Coming out of the half, Springfield was holding onto a 2-1 lead which quickly became 3-1 on a goal by freshman Jess Perry. Perry took it down the sideline and cut in toward the middle of the box. After some strong defense by Coast Guard, Perry quickly found a window and took her chance and rocketed the ball into a small gap between the goalie’s fingertips and the goalpost.
With Springfield riding high with a commanding lead, Coast Guard had the ball in Springfield’s box where Mia Forti for Coast Guard took a slow shot that was placed perfectly and managed to get into the net, cutting the deficit to one.
With the Pride trying to get some insurance, Meredith Healy made her presence felt by delivering a beautiful pass into a swarm of Coast Guard and Springfield players where the ball connected with Kayle McGrath. McGrath poked the ball into the goal, giving the Pride a commanding 4-2 lead.
The Pride now play host to WPI on Thursday at 7 p.m. on Brock-Afleck Field.
(Photo courtesy of Springfield College Athletics)