SPRINGFIELD, Mass. Freshman net-minder Taylor Ross (Stroudsburg, Pa.) was strong in net, but it was not enough as Assumption College defeated American International College, 2-0, in non-conference field hockey action this evening from Abdow Field.
The Greyhounds improve to 6-3 on the year while AIC falls to 2-7 overall.
The Hounds opened the scoring in the 9th minute as senior Kiley Colucci (Gloucester, R.I.) dribbled into the circle on the right side and ripped a shot that was tipped out in front by junior Meghan Sullivan (Worcester, Mass.) for the 1-0 edge.
Assumption continued to maintain possession in the offense half of the field for the majority of the first-half only allowing the Jackets minimal penetration into the circle as AIC registered just one shot on goal.
Early in the second half the visitors had a great chance to add to their lead as senior Sarah Frahm (Salem, N.H.) beat the defense and had a break-away bid that was stonewalled by Ross who came out of the net to make a diving stop on the shot in the 40th minute.
The Jackets responded with a flurry of chances in the 45th minute as senior Erica McLean (Branford, Conn.) dribbled into the circle from the left and found sophomore Payton Montague (Brewster, N.Y.), but her bid was stuffed and resulted in a penalty corner.
On the ensuing corner junior Shea Homer (Glens Falls, N.Y.) inserted to McLean who let rip from the top of the circle and Hound sophomore keeper Bridget Boyle (Stow, Mass.) stuck the left foot out to make the save.
AIC was awarded a second consecutive corner and this time it was Homer to junior Katie Lombardozzi (Leominster, Mass.) who fired away from the left side of the circle and again it was met by the left foot of Boyle keeping the score 1-0 in favor of Assumption.
Assumption came right down the field the other way, however, and grabbed a two-goal margin in the 49th minute as it was Colucci again finding senior Maria Beatrice (West Yarmouth, Mass.) on the left side for the kick in score.
The Yellow Jackets kept the pressure on and had another chance to get on the board as in the 52nd minute senior Kaylin Harbin (Stroudsburg, Pa.) blasted a shot from the top of the circle off a penalty corner that was again turned aside by Boyle to preserve the shutout bid.
AIC didn't give up as junior Taylor Ruscillo (Carle Place, N.Y.) found herself one-on-one with the goalie, but Boyle stuffed her bid with a sliding tackle and also stopped the rebound effort from senior Ainslee Penfield (Greenfield, Mass.) in the 62nd minute.
Ruscillo had another bid just a few minutes later on a penalty corner off a great pass from Lombardozzi, but Boyle again got the foot to it keeping the score 2-0.
The Hounds led in shots 19-12 even though AIC outshot them 10-7 in the second half while each team registered eight shots on goal and the hosts held the slim edge in penalty corners 5-3.
Boyle stopped all eight shots to improve to 5-3 on the year with her third shutout and Ross made six saves in the defeat to fall to 1-4 on the year.
American International remains home and resumes conference play on Saturday as they host Adelphi for a 5 p.m. affair.
