WATERVILLE, Maine -- The Simmons University field hockey team was defeated by host Thomas College, 3-0, today at Bernatchez Field in Waterville, Maine. The Sharks fall to 2-7 on the season, while the Terriers improve to 5-5.
The Thomas defense stifled Simmons, limiting the Sharks to just one shot, while the Terriers took 12 shots. Thomas also controlled possession as evidenced by a 10-2 advantage on penalty corners.
All three of the game's goals were scored by the Terriers in a span of less than six minutes in the opening half of play. Kelci Faulkingham (Belfast, Maine) and Allie Gregoire (Kennebunk, Maine) each \registered three points with a goal and an assist apiece.
Faulkingham notched the first Thomas goal on a feed from Gegoire on a penalty corner with 7:27 left in the first period to go up 1-0. The Terriers wasted no time to pad their lead with a goal coming just 33 seconds later. Britney Gregoire (Kennebunk, Maine) made it 2-0 with her seventh goal of the season and fourth in as many games. Allie Gregoire finished the scoring with 3:44 to go in the half, redirecting a drive from Faulkingham, on a penalty corner, to bring the score to 3-0 at the half.
The Terriers controlled play in the second half to secure the 3-0 victory.
First year Emily Plummer (San Diego, Calif.) fired the only shot of the match for Simmons in the second half.
Sophomore goalie Lucy McNamara (Brewster, Mass.) turned away three shots for the Sharks, while Leah Kruse (Norridgewock, Maine) and Alexis Bowman (Freedom, Maine) combined for the shutout, with Kruse earning the win after working a scoreless first half and Bowman making a save in the second stanza for Thomas.
Simmons returns to action on Saturday, September 29 when it hosts Great Northeast Athletic Conference rival Rivier University for an 11:00 a.m. contest at Daly Field, while the Terriers travel to Weston, Mass. to play Regis (Mass.) on September 25 for a 7:00 p.m. game.