WALTHAM, Mass.-The American International College field hockey team battled valiantly, but ultimately fell to the #10 Bentley Falcons by a score of 5-2 in non-conference play against their Northeast-10 rival Saturday.
With the loss, AIC drops to 1-2 on the season while Bentley improves their record to 1-1.
The Falcons opened the scoring on a tally by junior Becca Moore (Belmont, Mass.) just 5:35 into the contest as she was able to beat a defender 1-on-1 and find the back of the net with her blast from the right side.
AIC wasted little time in tying the game at 6:49 on a goal by sophomore forward
Taylor Ruscillo (Carle Place, N.Y.), who stayed persistent and slapped home a rebounded shot by her classmate,
Emma Heroth (Johnstown, N.Y.) for the 1-1 score.
However, the Falcons would strike twice more before the half ended and take a 3-1 lead into the locker room.
Senior Gina Lirange (Auburn, Mass.) was able to connect from point blank range at the 17:07 mark before assisting Moore for her second goal of the contest ten minutes later for the 3-1 score.
Bentley continued their momentum and wasted little time as they scored again just 2:49 into the final frame as Moore returned the favor to Lirange as she was able to tip home Moore's blast from the top of the circle for the comfortable 4-1 cushion.
The Jackets would not go quietly, pounding on the Bentley net and breaking through at the 46:08 mark when freshman forward
Liv Magni (Sweet Valley, Pa.) deflected a shot off a defender for her first collegiate goal and made the score 4-2.
Despite further opportunities, the visitors could not close the gap any further and Lirange finished her hat trick at the 63:04 mark as her shot from the left endline slipped past AIC junior
keeper Ainslee Penfield (Greenfield, Mass.)for the 5-2 final.
Penfield made 13 saves in the loss and junior defender
Emily Kollar (Leighton, Pa.) continued her stellar defensive play and added a pair of defensive saves in the setback. Falcon junior net-minder Katie Kelley (Walpole, Mass.) registered five saves in the victory.
The Jackets return home tomorrow to take on Dowling at 1 p.m. in another non-conference affair.
