Springfield, Mass. – October 5, 2024 – The Springfield College field hockey team surrendered three goals in the first six minutes of the game as it was toppled by WPI, 5-2, in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) contest at Stagg Field on Saturday.

WPI improved to 6-5, 3-1 with the win while Springfield dropped to 3-8, 0-2. 
 
The visitors jumped on the board less than two minutes into the game as Lauren Meinhold delivered a through pass to Abbey Powers, who slotted in a shot for the game's opening strike.  Less than 90 seconds later, the Engineers doubled their lead as a give-and-go play by Arie Lang and Ella Reeners resulted in Lang jamming in a cross-crease pass.  The Engineers continued their fast offensive start, extending a 3-0 cushion at the 5:45 mark when Eve Martineau delivered a centering pass which Meinhold was able to corral and backhand inside the near post.
 
Springfield would respond with their first marker just over a minute into the second quarter as Audrey Hayes (Oxford, Mass.) pushed transition down the sideline before finding Hailey Gaydos (Newington, Conn.) with a centering pass.  Gaydos continued to switch fields and found Emma McLaughlin (Norwalk, Conn.) on the far post for a back-handed strike.
 
A penalty stroke goal by Nicolette Morlock (Rexford, N.Y.) at 23:36 pulled Springfield within 3-2, only to have the visitors convert a penalty stroke goal of their own 35 seconds later to regain a 4-2 advantage heading into the half.

Following a scoreless third, WPI put the exclamation point on the win with Meinhold unleashing a bid from 10 yards off off an Eliza Duston penalty corner with under a minute to play in regulation to complete the 5-2 victory.  The Engineers enjoyed a 14-8 advantage in shots as they took seven of the game's 10 penalty corners. 
 
Springfield continues conference play on Tuesday when it battles Mount Holyoke at 5 pm.

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