CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Freshman Paige Forester (Glencoe, Ill.) recorded the first hat trick of her career Thursday evening as the MIT field hockey team defeated Lasell University, 7-0, at Jack Barry Field. The Engineers also recorded their second combined shutout of the season.
Lasell managed just two shots in the game, one each by senior Sam Taylor (Hanover, Mass.) and freshman Kensie Lennon (Jamestown, R.I.).
Sophomore Sofia Rodriguez (Peabody, Mass.) made seven saves during the first half for Lasell and junior Sydney Pignone (Ipswich, Mass) turned away 11 shots during the final 30 minutes. Senior Brooke Landry (New Milford, Conn.) bolstered the Lasers' backline courtesy of a defensive save late in the third quarter.
MIT jumped on top in the second minute when junior Jennah Haque (Bethesda, Md.) sent a short pass from the far post to classmate Amanda Garofalo (Fairfield, N.J.) who quickly redirected it right in front of the goal. The hosts made it 2-0 in the 10th minute following a flurry of activity when Forester knocked in a loose bouncing ball for the goal.
MIT added two more goals in the second quarter. From a tight angle along the far endline, Forester slipped the ball into the near post in the 22nd minute. Then in the 29th minute, following a scramble after a penalty corner, sophomore Emily Genevriere (San Jose, Calif.) sent a shot from the far post after connecting on a feed from classmate Liv Parsons (Leesburg, Va.).
The hosts tacked on two goals in the third quarter. Haque scored off the rebound of Forester's saved shot, and Genevriere passed the ball from the near side, which was gathered by Forester who placed her shot at the far post. MIT rounded on the scoring in the final frame on a penalty corner, as freshman Catherine Griffin (Durham, N.C.) tipped in Parson's pass at the far post for her first intercollegiate goal.
Lasell opens Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play this Saturday, Sept. 14 with a visit to Albertus Magnus College for a 12:00 p.m. start. MIT returns to action on Wednesday, Sept. 18 when it hosts nationally-ranked No. 3 Tufts University at 6:00 p.m.
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