Salem, Mass. – October 25, 2012 – Both Kelly Gallo and Katie Gill registered hat tricks to power the Springfield College field hockey team to a 8-2 win over Salem State in the Pride’s non-conference finale on Thursday evening at Alumni Field.

The Pride evened its record to 8-8, while the Vikings dropped to 9-7.

Gallo opened the scoring just three minutes and six seconds into the game to give the Pride an early 1-0 lead. Gill then scored back-to-back goals, the first assisted by Gallo, to push the lead to three scores just before the half. Springfield College held a slight 11-9 advantage in shots in the opening period as Salem State was kept in the game by the goaltending of netminder Michaela Boyer, who had seven saves in the period.

The Pride extended their lead to 4-0 early in the second half when Gill assisted on a goal by Meghan McHugh in the 41st minute. Salem State finally got on the board when Courtney Lynch scored off a feed from Stephanie Morrison.

Gill secured the hat-trick for Springfield College with her third goal of the game in the 43rd minute to push the lead to four goals. Kathleen Clark countered with a goal for the Lady Vikings a minute later to close the gap to 5-2. Gallo then notched two unassisted goals, the second in the 60th minute, to secure her third goal of the game. Linnea Quist made the final 8-2, when she scored at the 63:30 mark.

Timarie Villa made six saves in the win for Springfield College, while Boyer finished with eleven saves before being pulled for Elizabeth Burke, who finished the game for Salem State with a pair of stops.

Springfield outshot the Lady Vikings 26-13 and took nine corners to Salem State’s seven.

The Pride face off against Wellesley at home beginning at 1:00 pm on Saturday, with the winner earning the third seed in the upcoming conference tournament.