Field hockey wins, heading for playoffs

Boston, MA - Sophomore Julie Kilcoyne (Sterling, MA) scored two goals and Meredith Race (Marion, MA) recorded 8 saves as the Wheelock Wildcats defeated Daniel Webster 3-2 Monday night in NECC action. For Wheelock, the win avenges a 2-1 loss from earlier in the season and guarantees the Wildcats a playoff spot for the second year in a row.

Wheelock forward Kelsey McAuliffe (Groveland, MA) scored the first goal of the hard fought game and her seventh on the season less than six minutes into the first half when she cracked a shot past Daniel Webster Goalie Amy Price (Hope Valley, R.I.) to give the Wildcats a 1-0 advantage.

It was another twenty minutes before either team would light up the scoreboard and it was Kilcoyne catching a rebound off of Price's pads to give her team the 2-0 lead at halftime.

Daniel Webster came out of the break fired up though, as Natalie Bates (N.Kingston, R.I.) found the back of the net on a pass from Nicole Legere (Bangor, ME) two minutes into the second period. The Eagles continued to win the ball at midfield, stealing the momentum away from the Wildcats and tying the game thirteen minutes later on a goal by Lexi Fontaine (Plymouth, MA).

Kilcoyne responded for Wheelock two minutes later when she again picked up a rebound for her second goal of the night and a 3-2 Wildcat lead. Wheelock outshot the Eagles 13-10 on the evening, while Daniel Webster goalie Price netted nine saves.

The win improves Wheelock's record to 3-13 overall and 3-4 in the NECC, while Daniel Webster falls to 6-6 overall and 4-3 in the NECC. The Wildcats will next host Bay Path at home Saturday at 1:00.
 
The playoff schedule will be announced next week.