WPI Field Hockey Uses Two Goals in 45 Seconds to Sink Springfield
By Tiffany Williams –
Springfield landed a haymaker in the opening minute, but WPI had the final word — and plenty of it.
The Pride struck 59 seconds into Saturday’s NEWMAC clash at H. Carr Field when first-year Clare Moore ripped one from the top of the circle for a stunning 1-0 lead. For a while, it looked like Springfield might ride that jolt, but WPI’s response came right before halftime. Graduate student Lauren Meinhold carved up the defense, dribbled into the circle, and buried a low finish to knot it at 1-1.
From there, it was all Engineers. After a tense third quarter, WPI cracked Springfield wide open in the 48th minute. Senior Leah Uglevich pounced on a rebound to put the hosts ahead, and less than a minute later, Emma Barton finished off a slick cross from Madeline Chase to make it 3-1. In 45 seconds, the game went from deadlocked to done.
The Crimson and Gray defense locked down the rest of the way, smothering Springfield’s comeback hopes. WPI outshot the Pride 16-9 and kept the pressure consistent, while goalie Myles Lakin held firm with seven saves. Springfield keeper Kaitlyn Parent matched those seven stops but couldn’t survive the fourth-quarter surge.
WPI, now 7-2 overall and 2-0 in league play, looks like a serious problem for the rest of the NEWMAC. Springfield dropped to 5-4 and 1-1 in conference, left to wonder how a brilliant start unraveled so fast.
