The St. Thomas Aquinas College Field Hockey team saw its post-season run come to a close with a 4-0 loss to Southern New Hampshire University in the Northeast-10 Tournament Semifinal in Manchester, New Hampshire. The Spartans' season comes to a close with a 10-10 record while Southern New Hampshire improves to 17-3 and advances to the NE-10 Final.
In first quarter action, the Penmen were able to get on the stat sheet first, as Helene Servais scored what proved to be the game-winner 5:29 into the opening frame when she hammered home a feed from sophomore Emily Campbell off a penalty corner to make it 1-0 SNHU. The slim one-goal margin would stand through the final 9:31 of the stanza.
The second quarter would see Southern New Hampshire extend their lead to four on the strength of goals by Meaghan Wile (Assist: Lisa Hagel) at 22:52, Laura van der Doorn (Assist: Helene Servais) at 24:57 and Helene Servais' second of the game (Unassisted) at 26:42. The Penmen would take the 4-0 advantage into halftime.
No further scoring would take place by either squad through the final thirty minutes of play, giving #3 seed Southern New Hampshire the 4-0 shutout victory and a berth into the Northeast-10 Tournament Final against #1 seed Saint Anselm College on Sunday across town at Grappone Stadium in Manchester.
Spartan keeper Suzanne Clarke (L, 9-10) made 8 stops on the evening, while across the field in the Penmen goal, Melanie Rennie (W, 17-3) made 7 saves.
SNHU held a 20-10 shots advantage and a 9-3 edge in penalty corners for the game.
2019 NE10 Field Hockey Championship Schedule
Tuesday, Nov. 5
First Round
Game 1: #8 Franklin Pierce 0 at #1 Saint Anselm 2 (Final)
Game 2: #7 St. Thomas Aquinas 2 at #2 Adelphi 1 (Final/2OT)
Game 3: #6 Bentley 1 at #3 Southern New Hampshire 2 (Final/2OT)
Game 4 #5 Assumption 1 at #4 Stonehill 0 (Final)
Friday, November 8
Semifinals - at higher seeds
Game 5: #5 Assumption 0 at #1 Saint Anselm 1 (Final)
Game 6: #7 St. Thomas Aquinas 0 at #3 Southern New Hampshire 4 (Final)
Sunday, November 10
Championship (to be held at Saint Anselm)
Game 7: #3 Southern New Hampshire at #1 Saint Anselm - 1 PM