Springfield, Mass. – October 2, 2010 – The Springfield College field hockey team held off a late second-half rally as it topped visiting Wellesley College, 4-2, in New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action on Saturday afternoon. Freshman Kelly Gallo scored a goal and added an assist in the victory.
With the win, Springfield improves to 4-5 and evens its conference record to 1-1.  The Blue drop to 3-6, 1-2. The Pride’s offense came alive as it netted four goals in the game, the same total of goals it had scored in the previous four games combined.
Springfield jumped on the board first at the 9:10 mark as it took advantage of its second penalty corner of the game.  On the set piece, Meg Bradley let loose a shot from the top of the circle, which Kayla Sokol redirected into the back of the cage from her position on the left post.
The hosts took a 2-0 lead into halftime as Gallo scored her team-leading sixth goal of the season with 40 seconds remaining in the half.  Gallo cleaned up a scramble in front of the cage as she slipped in the PrideÂ's second marker of the frame.
Megan McHugh scored what would prove to be the game-winning goal just under three minutes into the second half. McHugh fired a shot from seven yards out that snuck just inside the left post for her first goal of the season.
However, the Blue would not go away lightly as it netted a pair of goals 48 seconds apart to make it a one-goal game.  Sally Scudder started the scoring off with a goal at the 48:24 mark, only to have teammate Sara Mohtes-Chan punch home a goal at 49:12, forcing a Springfield timeout.
Springfield capped off its first conference victory of the season as it scored with no time on the clock after being awarded a penalty corner. Liz Hurley took a Gallo feed and fired in a strike as Springfield picked up the 4-2 win.
Alison McCarthy earned the win for the Pride as she made 10 saves in goal. Her counterpart, Sarina Sawyer, also made 10 saves despite allowing four goals.
Springfield looks to continue its winning ways as it travels to take on Smith on Tuesday afternoon in another key conference contest.  Game time is scheduled for 4:30 pm
