Kopyscinski’s Early Strike Paces Field Hockey Past Bay Path College, 1-0

CHICOPEE, Mass. – Elms College sophomore forward Kristina Kopyscinski (Agawam, Mass.) intercepted a pass and found the back of the cage seven minutes into the contest and scored what proved to be the game-winner as the Blazers held on for a 1-0 victory over Bay Path College in Wednesday evening's New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) field hockey game at Leary Field.

With the win, Elms improves to 4-11 overall, 3-1 in NECC action, while Bay Path moves to 2-9 overall, 2-1 in conference play.

With the ball deep in Bay Path's defensive third of the field, Kopyscinski made a lunging interception of a Wildcats' pass, dribbled into the circle and fired a shot into the left corner of the net to give Elms a 1-0 lead 6:24 in the first half.

Elms kept pressure on Bay Path's defense throughout the contest as junior forward Kayla Narey (South Hadley, Mass.), junior forward Meghan Goodrow (Sunderland, Mass.), junior defender Allie LaMonica (Salem, Mass.) and Kopyscinski combined for 15 of the Blazers' 23 shots on goal.

Wildcats' net-minder Anna Meyer (Millbrook, N.Y.) was superb between the pipes, turning away 22 of the 23 shots on goal that she faced, allowing just the one early marker.

Elms' sophomore goalkeeper Samantha Alvino (Holtsville, N.Y.) did her part stopping both shots on goal that she faced including a very well taken strike by Kacy Hikel (Kenduskeag, Maine) at the 33:31 mark of the first frame.

Bay Path's Stephanie Belsen (Windsor Locks, Conn.) fired the team's other shot but was turned away by Alvino to preserve the Blazers' 1-0 victory.

Elms returns to play on Saturday, October 19 when it hosts WPI in non-conference action at 2:00 p.m. at Leary Field.