Strong First Half Propels Field Hockey Past Pilgrims, 6-0

PAXTON, Mass.—The Anna Maria College field hockey team netted five first-half goals en route to a 6-0 non-conference win against the Pilgrims of New England College on Wednesday afternoon at AMCAT Field.

With the win, the AMCATS even their record to 7-7, while the loss drops the Pilgrims to 0-14.

Anna Maria needed just 3:29 to get on the board, as Kaitlyn Moran (Leicester, Mass.) opened scoring by containing the ball around a defender and shooting a long shot through a crowd of defenders to net her third tally of the season.

Ten minutes later, Kylie Dalbec (Portland, Maine) scored her first goal of the day as she collected and stuffed home an attempted clear of a shot taken by teammate Nichole Lowe (Saugus, Mass.).

Lowe would tally back-to-back-to-back assists, as she set up teammate Kayla Lapierre (Worcester, Mass.) in the 22^nd minute for the 4-0 lead.

On the AMCATS' fourth goal of the game in the 23^rd minute, Lowe set up the play off a penalty corner. She fed the ball to the top of the circle to Moran, who sent it to back to Lowe and cut to the net, where Lowe again passed her the ball for the score past NEC goaltender Karlie Bove (Jefferson, Mass.).

In the 30^th minute, Dalbec was awarded a penalty shot, which she swiftly netted for her league-leading 15^th goal of the season.

Lowe would be awarded her own penalty stroke in the 59^th minute, which she shot high-left to beat Bova for the AMCATS' sixth and final tally of the day.

Starting AMCAT goaltender Mary Kate Breen (Londonderry, N.H.) recorded one save in 22:30 before giving way to Bryanna Tobin (Deep River, Conn.), who tallied seven saves in remainder of the game. Today's win marks their third combined shutout of the season.

Bove recorded eight saves in net for the Pilgrims. Both NEC's Cody Kent (Rye, N.H.) and Anna Maria's Moran recorded defensive saves on the day.

Anna Maria will be back in action on Saturday when it travels to Rivier for a 3:30 p.m. Great Northeast Athletic Conference game. NEC will travel to Castleton for a 4:00 p.m. North Atlantic Conference tilt on Saturday.