Anna Maria College Edges Field Hockey, 2-1

CHICOPEE, Mass. – Elms College sophomore forward Meghan Goodrow (Sunderland, Mass.) scored in the 21^st minute of action, but Anna Maria College used goals by Nichole Lowe (Saugus, Mass.) and Marybeth McClune (Worcester, Mass.) to pace the AMCATS to a 2-1 victory in Saturday afternoon's New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) field hockey game at Leary Field.

With the loss, Elms falls to 4-10 on the season, 2-1 in NECC action, while Anna Maria improves to 8-7 overall, 2-0 in league play.

Anna Maria drew first blood when Lowe found the back of the cage following a pass from Kylie Dalbec (Portland, Maine) in front of the net to give the AMCATS a 1-0 lead at the 17:16 mark.

Elms answered when sophomore defender Ashley Reid (Enfield, Conn.) delivered a centering pass in front of the net that Goodrow pounded into the back of the net to even the game at 1-1 in the 21^st minute of play.

With the score deadlocked following intermission, Anna Maria forged ahead when Brooke Denver (New Britain, Conn.) passed the ball to McClune in front of the net who scored to give the AMCATS a 2-1 edge.

The Blazers, who outshot Anna Maria 6-3 in the second half, had several opportunities late in the game, but AMCATS' goalkeeper Mary Kate Breen (Londonderry, N.H.) made four of her five saves in the second half.

Breen's counterpart, senior Alexandra Bonavita (Agawam, Mass.), made five saves in the opening 35 minutes for Elms and finished with seven in the game.

Lowe finished with three shots on goal for Anna Maria, while Goodrow fired three shots on target for the Blazers.

Elms returns to conference play on Wednesday, Oct. 17 at Daniel Webster College at 4:00 p.m.