SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College field hockey team fell 1-0 to Saint Thomas Aquinas College in a nonconference matchup to open the season on Saturday, September 1.

FAST FACTS:
SCORE: STAC 1, AIC 0
RECORDS: The Spartans record stands at 1-1, while AIC begins the year 0-1.
LOCATION: Ronald J. Abdow Field, Springfield, Massachusetts

STATS:
STAC:
Briannah Thorne: One goal, four shots on goal
Jacqueline Dowling: One assist
Suzanne Clarke: Win (1-1), three saves

AIC:
Chelsea Davis: One shot on goal, one defensive save
Jessica Stone: Loss (0-1), four saves

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• AIC controlled the tempo early, generating the first chances of the game on penalty corners in the first six minutes; a shot by junior back Chelsea Davis was saved, and a follow-up by junior midfielder Georgia Barnes was blocked by the defense, and on a subsequent corner, junior forward Jenny Holmqvist had a chance turned away by the Spartans goalkeeper.
• It was the visiting side that struck first; on their first corner and shot of the game, Brianna Thorne ripped a shot home from the top of the circle directly from the insert of Jacqueline Dowling.
• Thorne nearly doubled the lead less than a minute later, but a stellar stop by rookie goalkeeper Jessica Stone kept it 1-0.
• AIC struggled to generate chances in the second half as the Yellow Jackets were outshot 5-1 in the second frame after a 7-7 first half; Stone made one stop and Davis had a late defensive save as the Spartans focused on defense to hold the 1-0 final up.

PLAYER'S CORNER:

• "We played really well, but we had some jitters to get out in our first game," Stone said of her team's performance after the contest, adding that "I think we can play better as a unit and keep our intensity up the whole game against Slippery Rock, and we can't let stuff we can't control keep us from playing our game."

COACH'S CORNER:

• "We did a lot of good things today, and there's a lot to be excited about but also work to be done ahead of Monday's game," head coach Rhonwen Peters said.

NEXT UP:

• AIC will host Slippery Rock University on Monday, September 3 at 1 p.m.; the Rock will also play on Sunday, September 2 at 1 p.m. on Abdow Field against the Spartans.

STAY CONNECTED:

• For more updates about the AIC field hockey team, follow@AICFieldHockey onTwitterand@AICfhonInstagram. For updates on all AIC Yellow Jackets teams, follow@AICAthleticsonTwitterandInstagram, and likeAIC Yellow JacketsonFacebook.