Worcester, Mass. – October 18, 2011 – The Springfield College field hockey team raced out to a 2-0 lead just over six minutes into the contest and never looked back as it defeated Clark University, 4-2, in New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play on Tuesday.

The Pride got four goals from four different players as it improved to 3-11 overall and more importantly moves to 3-3 in league play. The Cougars meanwhile, dip to 8-4 following their 7-1 start and now stand at 2-3 in conference action.

The Pride got on the board almost immediately, getting the seventh goal of the season from Kelly Gallo just 1:25 into the contest.

Less than five minutes later Springfield rattled the back of the cage again when Tina DeGirolamo set up Jenn Califano at the 6:11 mark, making the score, 2-0.

Clark finally answered back when Madeleine Lutts recorded an unassisted marker at 21:51, closing the gap to 2-1.

The Cougars evened the score less than eight minutes later when Mel Melkonian made some moves through the Springfield defense and fired a blast past Pride netminder Grace Bibber to knot the score at 2-2 on her 23rd goal of the season.

Things stayed that way until Springfield moved ahead for good when Megan McHugh notched her fourth goal of the season midway through the second stanza, making the score, 3-2. Kayla Sokol added a Pride insurance goal at 66:18.

Springfield held a 15-9 edge in shots and a 9-7 advantage in penalty corners.

Bibber made three saves in goal for the Pride to pick up her second win, while Kate McGrath made ten stops for the Cougars.

The Pride will return to the field on Thursday with home contest against Trinity starting at 6:00 pm.