Wheelock falls in playoffs to Hawks

Leicester, Mass.- Kristal Swiderski (Warren, Mass.) scored a hat trick, to help glide Becker past Wheelock 4-1 in New England Collegiate Conference Postseason Field Hockey action.

The Hawks scored 4:23 into game when Victoria Sirchia (Goshen, Conn.) fed Kristal Swiderski near the left post, for the 1-0 lead. The Wildcats tied the game when Kelsey McAuliffe (Groveland, Mass.) squeezed a shot between the pads of Becker goalkeeper Ciara Lawrence (Costa Mesa, Calif.). With the score knotted 1-1 at the half, the Wildcats made it clear that they were not backing down to the number one seeded Hawks.

In the 2nd Half, Becker forward Kristal Swiderski showed why she was elected to the All-Conference Team earlier in the day. Two minutes into the half, Swiderski received a pass in front of the net, turned once to the right, then back to left, before slapping it into the net for the 2-1 lead. Swiderski all but clinched the Hawks place in the finals when drove past the Wheelock defense, scoring her 3rd goal of the game. Katlyn Eisele (Walton, NY) added an insurance goal in the 52nd minute to complete the scoring for the Hawks.

Wheelock goalkeeper Meredith Race (Marion, Mass.) made 9 saves in a losing effort. Wheelock finished the season with a record of 4-15. Becker goalkeeper Ciara Lawrence made 4 saves in a winning effort, improving the Hawks to 11-9. Becker will host the winner of Daniel Webster and Elms College in the New England Collegiate Conference Finals on Saturday at Alumni Field. The game is currently scheduled for a 1pm start.