Field Hockey Downs Becker For Third Straight NECC Win

Kaleigh Anderson (@KaleighAnd1)

CHICOPEE, Mass. – The Elms College field hockey team posted their third consecutive New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) win, defeating visiting Becker College, 1-0, Saturday afternoon at Leary Field. With the win the Blazers move to 5-6 on the season and 3-0 in the NECC, while the Hawks drop to 2-11 overall and 2-2 in the NECC.

Elms headed the contest on a hot note posting the first three scoring opportunities of the contest beginning with a corner at the 4:50 marker off the stick of sophomore Hayley Omahen (San Diego, Calif.). Elms was able to keep Becker out of the shot column until 14:21 when freshmen Taryn Flebbe (Neptune, N.J.) posted the first strike for the Hawks to which sophomore Jillian Lapponese (Enfield, Conn.) saved with ease.

Sophomore defender Chambrielle Genga-Richards (South Windsor, Conn.) posted a big defensive save for Elms with less than two minutes remaining in the half tallying her first defensive safe of the afternoon to stop a junior Amy Grenier (Westmeister, Mass.) ball from reaching the back of the cage.

Despite back and forth runs from both squads the scoreboard would remain a blank canvas throughout the first with the Hawks posting seven shots to Elms four.

Elms kept up the momentum throughout the first with sophomore Madison Messier (Warren, Mass.) posting the first shot of the half to which sophomore keeper Elysabeth Jeffries (Lisbon Falls, ME.) defended out of the Becker box.

After consistent runs, the Blazers were finally able to light up the scoreboard at the 47:38 mark as a Blazers corner from sophomore Reilly Griffin (Hatfield, Mass.) connected with freshmen Oliva Keane (Enfield, Mass.), who blasted a ball to the back of the cage to stake the 1-0 score.

Despite Becker attempts, Elms was able to nurse this lead to the finish to continue on their undefeated conference streak.

The Hawks outshot the Blazers, 17-10, during the contest. Lapponese posted 16 saves on the day, while Jeffries collected five for Becker.

The Blazers will return to action with an NECC road trip to Regis (Mass.) Tuesday for a 7:00 p.m. match. The Hawks host Daniel Webster Tuesday at 4:00 p.m.

ELMS FIELD HOCKEY