JWU, Simmons To Meet in Title Game; Rematch of 2022 Championship
WINTHROP, Mass. - The stage is set for the 2024 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Field Hockey Championship as No. 1 seed Johnson & Wales and No. 3 seed will match up against each other on Saturday, Nov. 9 with a time to be determined. The last time these two teams met, JWU squeaked by the Sharks in a penalty shootout earlier last month on Oct. 16th in regular season play.
The top-seeded Wildcats open the game up first as they got on the board early in the second period. No. 5 seed Saint Joseph's (Maine) responded with a goal of their own early in the second half but JWU collected another minutes later. From that moment, the Wildcats held the Monks to two shot attempts for the rest of the game, sealing a 2-1 victory and securing their spot in the championship game for the fourth year in a row.
The third-seeded Sharks went toe-to-toe in a defensive battle with No. 2 seed New England College as both teams were scoreless through the four periods as well as the two overtimes, forcing a penalty stroke shootout. Simmons converted on their first two attempts and NEC failed to convert in their first two. After an NEC penalty stroke was successful, the Sharks sealed the deal, converting on their fourth attempt and head back to the title game for the first time since 2022 where they will meet the Wildcats in Providence, R.I.
#1 Johnson & Wales def. #5 Saint Joseph's (Maine), 2-1
Recap courtesy of the Johnson & Wales Athletic Communications Department
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Sophomore Rayne Millett scored the game-winning goal midway through the third quarter to lift the top-seeded JWU (Providence) field hockey team to a 2-1 win over No. 5 St. Joseph's (ME) in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Semifinal action Wednesday evening at the Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletic Complex.
The win sends the Wildcats to the conference championship for the fourth-consecutive season, where they will meet the winner of No. 2 New England College / No. 3 Simmons on Saturday at the SMAC. JWU improves to 17-3 with the win while the Monks season ends at 10-11.
Millett staked the home team to a 1-0 lead 29 seconds into the second quarter when she knocked home a ball off the stick of junior Zofia Bangs. The Monks tied the game at one early in the third on a shot from Sadie Tirrell off a penalty corner.
The Wildcats went in front for good less than six minutes later when they scored off a play which began on a penalty corner. Senior Madison Young let go of a shot that was knocked around in front of the cage before finding the stick of Millett, who buried her eighth of the season.
After grabbing the lead, the Wildcats clamped down defensively in the fourth quarter, outshooting the Monks 8-1 and allowing just one corner over the final 15 minutes. Sophomore Sophia Brea recorded two saves to improve to 13-3 on the season.
#3 Simmons def. #2 New England College, 1-0 (Penalty Shootout)
Recap courtesy of the Simmons Athletic Communications Department
BOSTON – Simmons field hockey is gearing up for its Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Field Hockey Championship Tournament semifinals match against a familiar opponent, as they will be traveling to New England College with revenge on their mind Wednesday night.
The Sharks started off the 2024 GNAC Field Hockey Championship Tournament in exciting fashion, as they blanked the six-seed Blue Jays of USJ, led by three points from sophomore Lilly Taglieri, and were able to advance to the semifinals for the first time since 2022.
Last season, the Pilgrims ended the Sharks season in the GNAC quarterfinals, as well as narrowly defeating Simmons, 1-0, earlier this season. This time around, the team is confident that the results will be different, as they head into the match on a four-game win streak.
The Sharks will rely on their stifling defense, and relentless offensive attack, led by seniors Sydney Gonyea and Anna Tedeschi. Both of whom rank in the top six in the country in goals scored, and are aiming to finish their highly touted Simmons field hockey careers with a GNAC championship.