STANDISH, Maine – Simmons field hockey (13-3, 9-3 GNAC) concluded the regular season registering their eighth shutout of the season, blanking Saint Joseph's College of Maine (6-11, 6-6 GNAC) early Tuesday evening.

After making the two-hour trip to Maine, the Sharks offense sprung off the bus. Midway through the first quarter of play, junior forward Sydney Gonyea knocked in her 14^th goal of the season to put Simmons in front 1-0. The period wasn't over just yet when fellow junior, forward Anna Tedeschi gave the Sharks an insurance goal, scoring her 21^st goal of the season.

The Monks held the Sharks off the scoreboard for the entirety of the second quarter, but the Sharks threatened to add to their lead. Five minutes into the period, Tedeschi fired a shot towards the cage that was stopped by Monks goalkeeper Kassidy Collins. Then just before the half ended Simmons looked to poke in their third goal coming off a penalty corner, but Collins stopped a pair of shots to keep it a two goal game going into halftime.

When the teams returned to the field in the, the Monks managed to fend off four Shark penalty corners to begin the third quarter. But Simmons kept the pressure on Saint Joseph's defense and with three minutes remaining in the period, first-year Lilly Taglieri put the Sharks on top 3-0 with her fifth goal of the season.

Gonyea added another two goals in the final period of play to registered her third hat-trick in the last five games. With two minutes to play in the period, junior Alison Michalik capped off the scoring, connecting with Gonyea for the fifth Simmons goal.

SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS

• Junior forward Sydney Gonyea recorded her third hat-trick in the last five games, scoring three goals, including the game-winner in the seventh minute.
• Gonyea's six points keeps her second amongst conference leaders in points with 48.  
• First-year Lilly Taglieri scored her fifth goal of the season in the 42^nd minute.
• Junior forward Anna Tedeschi registered her 21^st goal of the season in the 14^th minute.

UP NEXT
Simmons will wait until tomorrow evening to find out who they will play in the GNAC post-season tournament, slated to begin on Saturday, October 28.