SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – Junior midfielder Kathryn Rawson tipped in a shot with 1:01 remaining and the Mount Holyoke College field hockey team hung on for a 2-1 victory over Springfield College in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action on Saturday. With the win, the Lyons move to 6-4 and 3-1 in conference play, while the Pride slip to 5-6 and 1-3 in the NEWMAC.
Locked in a 1-1 tie following the opening half of action, the Lyons were finally able to convert in late in the second stanza on a penalty corner. Injected by senior forward Charlotte Wagner (West Chester, Pa./Westtown School), the ball went out to the top to sophomore midfielder Mirjam Keochakian (Hamburg, Germany/Deerfield Academy).
Keochakian unleashed a shot from the top right of the circle, sending it on goal, where Rawson (Old Town, Maine/Old Town) was there to tip it past the reach of Springfield first year keeper Abbey Doherty (Hampton, N.H./Pinkerton Academy) (WATCH CLIP).
Mount Holyoke, which had 11 penalty corners in the second half of action, was awarded its final one with no time on the clock, but the Pride defense was able to deflect it out of play to end the game.
The Lyons were the first to get on the scoreboard just 3:03 into the first half after Rawson threw a shot in on goal that went just wide. Wagner came in with speed on the left side of the keeper and knocked it in for the 1-0 margin (WATCH CLIP).
Springfield tied the contest at 28:31 after a shot at close range from first year forward Taylor Conley (Yarmouth Port, Mass./Dennis Yarmouth Regional), was saved by Lyons keeper and captain Liz DiCesare (Westford, Mass./Bishop Guertin). The ball caromed out to the goalie's right, allowing sophomore defender Hannah Boylan (Mansfield, Mass./Mansfield Regional) to bury it into the open cage.
The two teams were even in shots for the contest with a 15-15 margin. Springfield owned and 11-8 advantage on goal. On the penalty corners, the Lyons dominated with a 17-6 edge.
DiCesare earned the victory with nine saves, while senior defender and captain Ruvimbo Mushavi (Harare, Zimbabwe/Arundel School) posted a defensive save. Doherty shouldered the loss with six saves for the Pride.
Mount Holyoke returns to action on Wednesday, welcoming Simmons at 7pm. Springfield is back on the field on Tuesday in a 6pm road game at Trinity.
