09/06/2008
Field Hockey Falls to New England College, 4-0

WORCESTER, MASS. 09/06/08 - New England College scored a pair of goals in each half to post a 4-0 victory over Clark University in non-conference field hockey action at Granger Field on Saturday afternoon. NEC (3-0) remains unbeaten, while Clark dips to 1-1.

Sophomore Marisa Ayotte (Feeding Hills, Mass.) led the Pilgrims with two goals. Junior Sarah Feugill (Derry, N.H.) and Jodie Dresser (Keene, N.H.) also notched single markers in the victory.

The Cougars played a solid defensive first half, keeping NEC off the board until the 9:47 mark of the period. That's when Ayotte fired a shot that Clark keeper Kathyrn Dawsey (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) got a foot on, but the sophomore forward was able to knock in the rebound for a 1-0 lead.

Clark had a pair of chances for the equalizer, but both attempts were stopped at close range by NEC goalie Mary Roux (Auburn, Mass.). Following a penalty corner, Chelsea Proulx's (Franklin, N.H.) bid out in front was kicked out at the 6:41 mark and Anne Marie DiMatteo's (Belmont, Mass.) bounced shot near the goal was rejected just two minutes later.

The Pilgrims were able to strike again when Feugill re-directed a shot from Khatianna Evans (Wayne, Me.) into the cage with just 34 seconds remaining in the half.

NEC wasted no time getting on the board in the second stanza. Just over four minutes in, Dresser blasted a shot just inside the circle to make it 3-0. The Pilgrims continued to control play and Ayotte netted her second goal of the day with 22:58 remaining.

Dawsey made 11 saves for the Cougars and helped keep the game within reach as NEC outshot Clark by a decisive 21-4 margin. Roux recorded four saves and earned the shutout for NEC.

Clark will host UMass-Dartmouth on Tuesday (7 p.m.). New England College will travel to Western Connecticut State for a non-conference tilt tomorrow (1 p.m.).