SPRINGFIELD, Mass.-A late offensive explosion propelled the American International College field hockey team to a wild 3-2 win over the Assumption Greyhounds in a crucial Northeast-10 Conference contest.

AIC improves to 9-6 overall and 5-3 in NE-10 play.

Assumption had the balance of play in the first half, and had a great scoring chance in the first three minutes as junior midfielder Kiley Colucci (Gloucester, R.I.) cut from right to left in the circle and fired a shot that was stopped by junior goalkeeper Ainslee Penfield (Greenfield, Mass.).

The best chance for the Jackets in the first half came in the twenty-ninth minute as sophomore midfielder Shea Homer (Glens Falls, N.Y.) dished a pass to senior forward Jenna Masionis (Ashland, Mass.), who had snuck in behind the defense, but senior Lauren Neilen (Mendon, Mass.) managed to force the ball wide.

In the second half, the Yellow Jackets tilted the field in their favor, getting the first great opportunity of the half in the forty-second minute on a corner as Homer inserted a penalty corner to sophomore forward Emma Heroth (Johnstown, N.Y.), but her shot was saved by Neilen.

Seven minutes later, the home side had another corner and took two close-in shots, one by junior midfielder Kaylin Harbin (Stroudsburg, Pa.) and another by junior back Emily Kollar (Leighton, Pa.), but again Neilen held the line.

It was Assumption that broke the deadlock, as a shot by Colucci was tipped by freshman forward Catie Laraway (Westfield, Mass.) past Penfield at 54:36 for her first of the season.

The Hounds nearly made it 2-0 with a pair of chances in front, but Penfield was up to the task, coming out deep into the circle to block the shots.

The Jackets continued to battle, and in the sixty-second minute drew another penalty corner. After a scrum in front, freshman back Meghan Largo (Ballston Lake, N.Y.) found a way to stuff the ball in at 61:53 for her first of the campaign.

AIC then took the lead a minute later, as Masionis got in front of the net with the ball, jamming away at it and just poking it over the line for her fifteenth of the season at 62:51.

Assumption came back, powering down the field to score on a tip in front by senior forward Paige Anderson (Suffield, Conn.) at 64:45; the tally was her fourth of the year.

However, the Yellow Jackets had one last offensive burst in them, as Harbin found a way to cross a ball in to Homer, who shoveled it past Neilen at 65:58 for her second of the year. Harbin's assist, her seventh of the season, set a new single-season mark for AIC field hockey.

From there, the defenses held. The Greyhounds could not even manage a single shot as Largo and senior Amanda Johannes (Killingworth, Conn.) continued to clog up the middle of the field, with Johannes in particular making several sparkling defensive plays to keep the visitors from any hope of tying the match.

Penfield had six saves in the win, improving to 9-6 on the season.

AIC plays their last regular season road contest on Saturday when they head to Stonehill to take on the Skyhawks at 6:00 p.m.