SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College field hockey team used a season-best offensive eruption to knock off Saint Michael's College, 5-3, in a Northeast-10 Conference matchup on Wednesday, October 20.

FAST FACTS:
Final Score: AIC 5, Saint Michael's 3
Records: AIC improves to 6-9 overall and 4-7 in NE10 play, while the Purple Knights drop to 4-11 with a 3-8 NE10 mark
Location: Ronald J. Abdow Field, Springfield, Massachusetts

KEY STATS:
Saint Michael's:
Jenna Puleo: Two goals, one assist
Bridgie Loughlin: One goal, one assist
Riley O'Connor: Loss (4-10), seven saves

AIC:
Shannon Cormier: One goal, two assists
Brooke Szafran: One goal, two assists
Camarin Cook: One goal, one assist
Na'Bree Wallace: One goal
Nadia Elcock: One goal
Nicole Mercadante: One defensive save
Jessica Stone: Win (6-6), 11 saves

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The goals came fast and furious in the first quarter as the Purple Knights struck on a corner at 6:16, with Jenna Puleo dishing back to the left side of the circle for Bridgie Loughlin, who fired home the game's first tally.
• AIC responded nearly immediately on a corner of its own; rookie Brooke Szafran's insert went right to the top of the circle for junior Shannon Cormier, who struck the ball low right for her fourth of the season at 7:08.
• The Purple Knights regained the lead just two minutes later. Puleo scored by driving into the circle from the 25 and cutting right before firing home a goal at 9:08.
• In the second, the Yellow Jackets converted another corner to draw level. Junior Camarin Cook fired a blast from the left side of the circle that sophomore Na'Bree Wallace knocked down and tapped in for her fifth of the season at 5:51.
• AIC took its first lead of the day less than two minutes after tying the contest, as Cormier fired a hard pass into the circle from the right side, and Szafran did the rest, turning away from a defender before snapping a shot just inside the left post at 7:44 for her first of the year.
• The Purple Knights pushed hard out of the halftime break and tied the game in the first minute as Loughlin spring Puleo into the circle and she made no mistake with her shot, scoring at 0:50.
• The guests continued their run at the AIC net, but could not break through again; junior Jessica Stone made six of her 11 saves on the contest in that frame, keeping the score level at 3-3.
• In the fourth, the Yellow Jackets tilted the field back in their favor, and took advantage of a corner to take back the lead. Szafran's insert came to Cook, and she hit the target with her shot, scoring her first of the season at 47:31.
• The Purple Knights pressed hard to find the equalizer, but the lone remaining goal for the match went to AIC, as Cormier sent graduate student Nadia Elcock into the circle, and she sent home her first as a Yellow Jacket into the left corner of the cage to seal the win at 11:20.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY:

• The result, as well as the offensive outburst in general, was a fantastic present for Head Coach Rhonwen Peters, who was celebrating her birthday on gameday.

• Of the birthday win, Peters said "I couldn't have asked for a better birthday gift than to see the smile on the team's faces after a hard-fought win!"

QUOTABLE:

• "We really showed up tonight. Each and every girl showed resilience and heart. Everyone really gave their all and it showed on the field and on the scoreboard. I'm very happy we were able to get this win," said senior Makaylah Mutz of the team's effort.
• "Today's game was really important to spark the fire under our offensive unit. It was a full team effort today, I'm extremely proud of our performance today," Cook said.
• "I'm really proud of the team's resilience in today's game. It's exciting to see five different goal scorers on the box score," Peters said of the offensive output, adding "We executed a lot of the things we've been focusing on in practice, so I'm happy the team is seeing their hard work pay off!"

NEXT UP:

• AIC celebrates Senior Day on Saturday, October 23 at 5:00 p.m. against Stonehill College.