GNAC FIELD HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL

WINTHROP, Mass. – No. 1 seed Johnson & Wales and No. 3 seed Colby-Sawyer each earned their berth into the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Field Hockey Championship match on Wednesday (Nov. 1) afternoon with their semifinal victories. The Wildcats will host the Chargers in the championship on Saturday, Nov. 4 with the start time still to be determined.

Both semifinals were tight contests as the victors did earned their results with one-goal differences. The top-seeded Wildcats got a goal in the third quarter and made it stand up against No. 5 seed New England College to earn the 1-0 win. The other semifinal featured a flurry of fourth quarter scoring with the Chargers getting the 2-1 edge over No. 2 seed Lasell on the road.

If the regular season is any indication, the championship match should be a close one. In their only conference meeting during the year, JWU edged out the Chargers, 1-0.

In Saturday's championship, the title of 2023 GNAC Field Hockey Champion is on the line. The team that claims the conference crown also earns the league's automatic qualifier into the 2023 NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship.

#1 Johnson & Wales 1, #5 New England College 0

Recap courtesy of the Johnson & Wales Athletic Communications Department.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Freshman Rayne Millett scored her 11th goal of the season midway through the third quarter to break a scoreless tie and lift the top-seeded Johnson & Wales field hockey team to a 1-0 win over No. 5 seed New England College Wednesday afternoon in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Semifinal action at the Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletic Complex.

With the win, the Wildcats (16-2) will host the GNAC Championship for the second-consecutive season against No. 3 seed Colby-Sawyer. Head coach Lisa Lopes and her squad are seeking a third-consecutive GNAC Championship, having defeated Colby-Sawyer (4-1) in 2021 and Simmons (3-1) in 2022.

The two teams played to a scoreless first half with JWU holding a 4-2 advantage in shots. In the third, JWU scored the only goal of the contest at 37:53 when Millett smacked in a rebound off a shot from senior Katie Sloan.

The Wildcats dominated the second half, outshooting the Pilgrims 9-2 and earning five penalty corners, compared to just one for NEC (13-8). Freshman goalkeeper Sophia Brea recorded four saves to move to 16-2 on the season.

#3 Colby-Sawyer 2, #2 Lasell 1

Recap courtesy of the Colby-Sawyer Athletic Communications Department.

NEWTON, Mass.  – For the second time in three years the Colby-Sawyer field hockey team is headed to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship after defeating Lasell on the road Wednesday night by a 2-1 final. 

Rapid Recap: 

• The first quarter saw little action with only two shots taken on target in the 15 minutes. First year Kylie Walden and junior Sabrina Lippold had the shots but were turned away by Courtney Tello. In the second quarter the Lasers got the offense going with two early chances but junior Carly Bernard made the stops. The Chargers almost jumped ahead in the 19th minute getting three opportunities, but Tello slapped them away to hold the score. In the 22nd minute Lily Stark almost opened the scoring, but Lippold shut the door with a defensive save. Bernard added five more saves to close the half 0-0. 
• The third quarter kept the Lasers in control, but another defensive save this time by senior Aleah Murph kept the game at 0-0. Sophomore Cecilia Ponzini and Murph each had late quarter opportunities, but Tello stayed strong. In the fourth quarter the home team jumped ahead as Stark finished home a pass from Abbey Playle to take the 1-0 advantage in the 50th minute. The Chargers countered as Ponizni got the penalty corner pass whiffed and then scored past Tello to even the score. In the 58th minute Colby-Sawyer struck the game-winner as Lippold rocketed a shot past Tello to earn the Charger victory.

Inside The Numbers: 

• Bernard breaks the program-record in single-season wins with the semifinal win. Carly made 12 saves in the cage to send the Chargers to the championship.
• Lippold netted her sixth goal and second defensive save in the win, while Ponzini tallied her fourth goal of the season. 
• Murph adds to her program record with her 11th defensive save.

2023 GNAC Field Hockey Tournament Schedule

Quarterfinals – Saturday, Oct. 28
(Hosted by higher seeds)

#1 Johnson & Wales def. #8 Regis, 8-1 | BOX
#2 Lasell def. #7 Saint Joseph's (Maine), 4-0 | BOX
#3 Colby-Sawyer def. #6 Rivier, 3-2 (OT) | BOX
#5 New England College def. #4 Simmons, 2-1 | BOX

Semifinals – Wednesday, Nov. 1
(Hosted by higher seeds)

#1 Johnson & Wales def. #5 New England College, 1-0 | BOX
#3 Colby-Sawyer def. #2 Lasell, 2-1 | BOX

Championship – Saturday, Nov. 4

#3 Colby-Sawyer at #1 Johnson & Wales, TBD

ABOUT THE GREAT NORTHEAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 16 member institutions and over 4000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 22 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.

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