SPRINGFIELD, Mass. Senior Erica McLean (Branford, Conn.) netted a goal and added an assist on the game-winning tally to help lead American International College to a 5-1 victory over Southern New Hampshire in Northeast-10 field hockey action this evening from Abdow Field.
AIC improves to 2-5 on the season and 1-2 in conference play while the Penmen fall to 2-6 overall and 0-3 in the NE-10.
The Jackets controlled the opening portion of the game with multiple scoring chances before finally getting the ball in the back of the cage as sophomore Paige Montague (Brewster, N.Y.) dished the ball in front to senior Ainslee Penfield (Greenfield, Mass.) who slapped it home for the 1-0 advantage in the 15th minute.
Then in the 22nd minute AIC increased their lead as senior Erica McLean (Branford, Conn.) ripped a shot from the right side that was tipped in front by Paige Montague and into the goal for the 2-0 edge.
The Penmen cut the deficit in half late in the first half as freshman Cassidy Huckins (Boscawen, N.H.) had a breakaway that was stuffed as freshman net-minder Taylor Ross (Stroudsburg, Pa.) came out of the net to meet her, but the loose ball found the stick of senior Melanie Epstein (Bayport, N.Y.) who found the empty net for the 2-1 score at the break.
American International regained that two-goal edge early in the second half as junior Emma Heroth (Johnstown, N.Y.) beat the keeper in the 40th minute for the 3-1 lead.
Heroth then found McLean off a penalty corner and the senior ripped one into the back of the cage from just inside the circle in the 44th minute for the 4-1 score.
Sophomore Liv Magni (Sweet Valley, Pa.) then broke the game wide open as she collected the ball and raced up the seam through a pair of defenders and ripped a no-doubter into the back of the net for the 5-1 final in the 48th minute.
Ross made three saves to earn her first collegiate victory and improve to 1-2 on the year. She was relieved by senior Erin Maroney (Chicopee, Mass.) late in the game and Maroney stopped the only shot she had over the final 6:48. Penmen sophomore Jill Piacitelli (East Greenwich, R.I.), stopped 12 shots, before being replaced by senior Cassandra Nickerson (Newton, N.H.) who stopped four shots over the final 22:11 in the setback.
AIC dominated in shots 32-7 including 21-5 on goal and also held the 12-5 edge in penalty corners.
AIC returns to action as they travel to Bentley for a 7 p.m. affair on Tuesday.
