SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Senior captain Kirsten Kilburn scored twice and added an assist to lead nationally-ranked Mount Holyoke College to a 4-1 non-conference win Thursday over host Western New England University at Golden Bear Stadium.
The Lyons, who are No. 17 in this week's National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division III coaches' poll, won their sixth in a row to improve to 12-2 on the season. Western New England falls to 5-11 overall.
Mount Holyoke opened the game's scoring in the 14th minute as junior Sarah LaQuerre (Old Orchard Beach, Maine) fed the ball to Kilburn (North Branford, Conn.) off a corner injection by sophomore Charlotte Wagner (West Chester, Pa.). Kilburn blasted it in for her eighth of the season, while both LaQuerre and Wagner earned the assists.
Kilburn posted her ninth of the season in the 34th minute, scoring unassisted past the reach of first year goalie Grace Trupe. The Lyons closed out the first half of action as senior Chrissy Boyles (Harvard, Mass.) tallied at 34:27 to give the visitors a 3-0 lead at the intermission.
In the second half, first year Sophie Perekslis (Sheffield, Mass.) notched her team-leading 13th goal of the season, deflecting in a shot from Kilburn at the left post.
Western New England spoiled Mount Holyoke's shutout bid in the 54th minute when sophomore Hillary Naranjo-Mejia potted her career-best third goal on the season off an assist from senior co-captain Megan French.
Freshman goalie Grace Trupe made 11 saves--tying her career high, set two games ago--to help keep WNE in the contest with the Lyons, who had 23 shots for the evening. MHC keeper Liz DiCesare (Westford, Mass.) recorded five stops over 57:31 of action. Sophomore Mariesa Mazzone (Gilroy, Calif.) was not forced to make any saves in 12:29 of relief.
Western New England returns to action on Saturday for Senior Day--honoring French in a pregame ceremony--against Commonwealth Coast Conference opponent Nichols College at 1 p.m. at Golden Bear Stadium. Mount Holyoke will host Senior Day for its own seven seniors on Saturday against MIT in a critical New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference game at 1pm.
Portions of the game story courtesy of Patrick Stewart, Western New England Sports Information.
