FIELD HOCKEY: Top Seeds JWU, Simmons Nail Down Spot in GNAC Final

CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL

JWU Athletics Communications:

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Freshman Zofia Bangs scored the only goal of the game in the second quarter to send the Johnson & Wales (RI) University field hockey team to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship with a 1-0 win over Colby-Sawyer College Wednesday afternoon at the Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletic Complex.

Senior goalie Madison Flaxington recorded one save to earn her 18th win of the season for the Wildcats (18-1), who will host Simmons University Saturday for the conference championship. JWU outshot the Chargers 17-6 and held them to one shot in the second half.

Bangs ninth goal of the season with less than five minutes remaining in the first half proved to be the only goal JWU would need. The Stoughton, Massachusetts native broke down the left side of the field and let go of a shot that found the lower right corner of the net.

The Chargers (13-6) received four penalty corners in the waning moments of the match, but were only able to muster one shot, which was blocked. Colby-Sawyer finished the contest with three defensive saves.

Simmons Athletics Communications:

BRIGHTON, Mass. – The season rolls for Simmons field hockey as they advance to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) title game for the first time in six years following a 4-0 victory over No. 6 Lasell University on Wednesday evening.

The Sharks looked to draw first blood receiving back-to-back penalty corner opportunities in the opening four minutes, but were unable to convert. Coming off a quarterfinal upset of the No. 3 Saint Joseph's College of Maine, Lasell was equally as impressive on offense. The Lasers were quick to the ball and sprinted up field looking poised to score before being greeted by sophomore Emilia Elko and the Sharks defense.

With the two teams battling each other to a scoreless first period, Simmons broke up the stalemate nearly 10 minutes into the second quarter. Sophomore Sydney Gonyea lined a bullet into graduate senior Riley Lambert in front of the cage to give the Sharks the 1-0 lead, that they took into the halftime break.

Returning to the field at the start of the third quarter, the Sharks found their offensive spark. Coming up the far sideline seven minutes into the period, Gonyea slide a smooth pass along the end line to fellow classmate Anna Tedeschi to give Simmons a two-goal cushion. But the offense was far from done. 

Midway through the fourth quarter, junior Izzy Sciplini knocked in her first goal of the season from sophomore Hannah Groves off a penalty corner to put the Sharks up 3-0. A minute later, they extended their lead to four with Gonyea tipping in a rebound for her 27^th goal of the season. 

Senior goalkeeper Emma Sheehan preserved the Sharks 13^th shutout of the season and earned her eighth win, recording a pair of saves to send Simmons onto the championship. 

SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS

• Sophomore Emilia Elko preserved the Sharks 13^th shutout of the season anchoring the Sharks defense throughout the contest.
• Graduate senior Riley Lambert poked in the eventual game-winner in 24^th minute for her 17^th goal of the season.
• Junior Izzy Sciplini registered her first goal of the season, scoring the Sharks third goal off a penalty corner in the 51^st minute.
• Sophomore Sydney Gonyea registered a goal and two assists, including connecting with fellow sophomore Anna Tedeschi in the 37^th minute.

GAME NOTES

• Simmons improves to 13-11 all-time against Lasell and have won the last three meetings.
• The Sharks advance to the GNAC Championship Game for the first time since 2016 when they faced Saint Joseph's College of Maine.

UP NEXT
No. 2 Simmons will compete for their third GNAC Championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, November 5 when they travel to Providence, Rhode Island to face off against No. 1 Johnson & Wales University at 1 p.m.