SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - On the strength of a two-goal second period, the American International College field hockey team earned a 2-1 Northeast 10 Conference win over Pace University in its home finale on Tuesday, October 27.
AIC is now 4-9 overall and 2-5 in the NE10.
Pace put immense pressure on AIC in the first quarter, and drew a penalty stroke late in the frame.
Frederique den Hartog was up to the task, however, turning the shot back with her left hand to keep the game scoreless.
The Yellow Jackets had more offensive presence in the second, and it paid off in drawing their first corner of the game. That led to a second, and on that attempt,
Fenna Voll's shot from the left side was deflected by
Victoria Nelson at the penalty stroke dot and over the right hand of Tara Dusee at 3:11 for her first of the season.
Barely four minutes later, AIC struck again. A breakout pass sent
Martina Pereyro between the defense and into the circle. She was able to cut to the left to fire a shot, and that ball deflected to
Maite Solari in front of the net. Solari spun with it and whipped the ball underneath Dusee and into the net at 7:21 for her first NCAA goal and a 2-0 AIC lead.
In the third, Pace converted a penalty corner, with a high shot by Grace Francis from the right side at 5:44 finding the net; the initial signal on the play was no goal, but the tally was awarded after the officials conferred and confirmed the ball had been deflected before reaching Francis.Â
However, AIC's defense put a wall up from there. Rookies
Fiene Dik and
Emma Fabi were brilliant in the middle in relentlessly winning the ball away from Pace's offense, while graduate students
Grace Boisvert and
Kylee Rinker worked well along the wings to keep the Setters at bay and transition to offense. That back line limited the Setters to just three shots on target over the final 24 minutes, allowing AIC to hang on and put the victory away.
den Hartog made eight stops in the win, while Voll had a defensive save in addition to her assist.
AIC will look to keep it going as it plays its final two regular season games away from home. The Yellow Jackets next face Adelphi University in Garden City, New York on Saturday, October 31 at 1:00 p.m.
