Worcester, Mass. - September 30, 2017 - Despite a late rally, the Springfield College field hockey team fell to WPI, 3-2, in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Stadium.

With the loss, the Pride is now 5-4 on the year and 0-2 in NEWMAC play, while the Engineers improve to 6-2 overall and 1-1 in league play. WPI held a 21-16 shot advantage over 70 minutes of play, while the Pride was awarded 10 penalty corners to the Engineers' six.  

In net for the Pride, Emmalie Drake (Pittsford, N.Y.) made 13 saves, which gives her a total of 28 saves on the week, combining with her 15-save performance on Wednesday against Williams College, while Karen Mushrall (Mariaville, Maine) finished with nine saves en route to her sixth win of the year. 

WPI got on the board just 3:16 into the contest as Sabrina Guzzi (Suffield, Conn.) scored unassisted to make it 1-0, Engineers, in the early goings. WPI extended its lead to two just 3:55 later when Amanda Richards (Wilmington, Mass.) set up Katelyn Hess (Milford, N.H.) for a goal, before taking a 3-0 advantage on a goal from Bridget Sullivan (Wilmington, Mass.) with 16:29 to play in the half. 

WIth 1:21 remaining on the clock, Springfield College cut its deficit to two as Dani Sweet (Charlton, Mass.) set up Maggie Kennedy (Clay, N.Y.) for her team-leading seventh goal of the year, sending the Pride into the break trailing 3-1. 

Springfield College looked to pull within one with 20:57 to play in the game as a foul resulted in a penalty stroke for the Pride, but Mushrall came up with a huge stop to keep the maroon and white at bay. The Pride finally broke through with 5:38 to play when Taylor Conley (Yarmouth Port, Mass.) drove down the left side of the field before centering a last-second pass across the crease, which was hammered home by Belle Copponi (Dover, Mass.) to make it 3-2, WPI, in the waning minutes. 

Springfield College was granted one more penalty corner in the late seconds of the contest, but was unable to convert as WPI escaped with the 3-2 win.

Next, Springfield College will travel to Mount Holyoke for another New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) contest on Tuesday, October 3 at 7 p.m.