Field Hockey Falls to Springfield, 6-2

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Senior forward Maggie Kennedy (Clay, N.Y.) notched a hat trick to lead the Springfield College field hockey team to a 6-2 victory over visiting Bridgewater State University in non-conference play on late Thursday afternoon at Stagg Field.

The host Pride improve to 6-5 on the season, while the Bears fall to 3-6 overall.

Springfield held a dominant 42-14 shot advantage for the game. The Pride were also awarded nine penalty corners compared to four for the Bears.

Springfield also received goals from sophomore forwards Belle Copponi (Dover, Mass.) and Taylor Conley (Yarmouth Port, Mass.), and junior midfielder Taylor Field (Eastham, Mass.).

Junior midfielder Samantha Hayes (Norwood, Mass.) notched her team-leading seventh goal of the season for the Bears, while senior defender Janet Maher (Mansfield, Mass.) potted her first goal of the 2017 campaign for the visitors.

Hayes' goal in the 19th minute knotted the score at 1-1 just 2:40 after Kennedy had opened the scoring. Kennedy closed out the first half scoring and Coppini extended the Springfield lead to 3-1 a little less than five minutes into the second stanza.

Mahet cut the Bears' deficit to 3-2 in the 49th minute before the Pride reeled off three unanswered markers to put the game away.

Kennedy finished the game with three goals and an assist. With her seven points, Kennedy became just the fifth member of the Springfield field hockey program since 1980 to record 100 career points.

In net for the Pride, junior Emmalie Drake (Pittsford, N.Y.) turned aside nine shots, including eight in the first half, to pick up her sixth win of the year. BSU junior goalkeeper Allison Chappell (Raynham, Mass.) recorded a season-high 22 saves on the evening for the Bears who also received a defensive save from senior midfielder Tori O'Dea (South Dennis, Mass.).

Both teams return to action on Saturday afternoon. The Pride travel to Smith College for a one o'clock NEWMAC game with the Pioneers, while the Bears entertain Little East rival Keene State College also at one.