Box Score BOX SCORE

NEWTON, Mass. - October 4, 2011 - The Colby Sawyer field hockey team earned their first North Atlantic Conference (NAC) win today on Grellier Field as they defeated Lasell, 3-0.  The Chargers improved to 3-6 overall and 1-1 in NAC play, while Lasell dropped to 2-9 and 1-4 in the league.

The sky opened up just as the teams came out to start the game, leaving the squads to battle through rough conditions on Grellier Field for the entire contest. Despite the hammering rain, Colby Sawyer broke out to a quick lead just 5:19 into play as Jess Buckley (Shrewsbury, Mass.) slipped one across the Lasers' goal line off a pass from Alexa Comesanas (Germantown, N.Y.).

The 1-0 lead held up nearly through the rest of the half until, with 30 seconds left to play in the first stanza, Colby Sawyer was awarded a penalty corner.  Katharine Kessler (Newport, N.H.) released the ball to Nykki Stritzinger (Bel Air, Md.) who struck with 21 seconds left in the period.  The Chargers went into the break with a 2-0 advantage.

Upon returning to play, Nichole Danehy (Billerica, Mass.) bumped up the Chargers' lead to 3-0 with a goal at 44:37.  Danehy received a cross pass from Stritzinger, which she tucked behind Lasell's relief goalie Grace Amato (Sharon, Vt.).

Lasell's Samantha Cote (East Longmeadow, Mass.) attempted five shots in the game, four of which were on goal, but Colby Sawyers goalie Colleen O'Hurley (Weare, N.H.) was able to deflect away each attempt. All told, O'Hurley finished the shutout with five saves.

Coggins also assisted O'Hurley's efforts by picking up one defensive save on a Cote attempt at the 15 minute mark of the first half.

Lasell's goalies split time in net with a total of four saves between them. Starter Christine Thornton (Canton, Mass.) made one save while Amato finished with three.

The Chargers host Rivier at 4:00 pm on Thursday in a make-up game from the weekend.

---Release courtesy of Lasell Sports Info