Corsairs Sunk by Sharks

DARTMOUTH, Mass. — The Simmons University field hockey team scored two goals in the first quarter to race out to an early advantage and never looked back, defeating the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth 4-0 this afternoon on Cressy Field. 
 
The Sharks improved to 2-0 on the season, while the Corsairs suffered their first loss to slip to 1-1 overall.  Simmons has won three consecutive contests against UMassD after the Corsairs captured five straight victories to begin the all-time series.
 
Simmons held a 25-3 advantage in shot, including 7-1 in the opening frame.  The Sharks cracked the scoring column in the third minute, when senior Emily Plummer (San Diego, Calif.) collected her own rebound and deposited it into the back of the net.  The visitors capitalized on a penalty corner to double their lead in the later stages of the quarter.  Plummer gathered the initial pass at the top of the circle and fired a shot that forced the Corsair goalie to make a pad save.  Junior Maddie Beckwith (Winslow, Maine) pounced on the loose ball and registered her first marker of the season.
 
The Sharks continued to apply the offensive pressure in the second stanza.  First-year Anna Tedeschi (Hanover, Mass.) extended Simmons' advantage in the 19th minute, when she controlled a rebound and slipped her first goal of the campaign past the sprawled-out keeper. The visitors entered the halftime intermission with a 4-0 lead after converting on a penalty corner opportunity.  First-year Hannah Groves (Durham, Maine) collected a carom and created shooting space to deposit her first collegiate goal with less than 70 seconds remaining in the half.
 
UMass Dartmouth utilized a pair of penalty corners to create quality scoring chances in the third quarter.  Junior Mya Amaral (Rehoboth, Mass.) appeared to tip in a shot from graduate student Hannah Steen (Fall River, Mass.) but the goal was disallowed.  The Corsairs nearly struck at the end of the frame, when Steen's shot from the top of the circle hit the post.
 
Junior Emma Sheehan (Taunton, Mass.) registered one save to earn the shutout victory, while first-year Alyssa McDonough (Hill, N.H.) reached double digits in stops with 13 in the loss.
 
UMass Dartmouth will return to action at 7pm on Thursday, Sept. 9 when the Corsairs host Salve Regina in a non-conference matchup.