Springfield, Mass. – October 31, 2009 – The Springfield College field hockey team took its first step to defending its conference crown as it used a four-goal second half to defeat WPI in a New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament Quarterfinal on Saturday afternoon.

The fourth-seeded Pride improves to 11-8 on the year and will now face top-seeded Wellesley on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 7) at 11:00 am. Springfield downed the Blue, 4-2, in the previous meeting in the regular season.

Fifth-seeded WPI’s NEWMAC Tournament season comes to a close with its 11-6 record.

The difference in the game proved to be Springfield’s offense at the start of the second half. After a 1-1 end to the first half, the Pride pumped in three goals in the opening 9:27 of the second half to blow open the game. Alexa Carlson opened up the scoring spurt just 4:38 into the second half as she netted what would prove to be the game winner. After a scramble in front of the cage, Becca Gamble found wide open teammate Morgan Rein for Springfield’s third goal of the game. One minute and 28 seconds later, Karah Heald set up Meagan Dobson as the Pride’s lead grew to 4-1.

Rein finished the day strong as she picked up her second goal of the afternoon off an assist from Meg Bradley with just under 12 minutes to play in the game.

The Pride broke into the scoring column first, when Gamble recorded her sixth goal of the season at the 13:05 mark of the first half. Kaila Dee was credited with the assist, as her pass slipped through the defense and found Gamble for the marker.

WPI tied the game at 1-1 when Jackie McDonough found the back of the cage with 10:28 remaining in the first half.

Anna Calano earned the win for Springfield as she made four saves in 70 minutes of work. Elizabeth Ray was credited with the loss as she entered the game at the start of the second half and gave up three goals on the first three shots she faced. Allie Griffin played 58 minutes between the pipes and made 14 saves for the Engineers.