FIELD HOCKEY OPENS WITH SHUTOUT OF SAINT MICHAEL'S
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (September 6, 2006) -
Jacki Lapointe (Danvers, Mass.) scored 14 minutes
into the game and goalkeeper Cindy Armand
(Danvers, Mass.) made 15 saves en route to her third career shutout
as American International College posted a 1-0 win over Saint
Michael's College in Northeast-10 field hockey Wednesday afternoon
at Yellow Jackets Field. It marked the season opener for the
Yellow Jackets, while the Purple Knights fall to 1-2 overall and
0-1 in the league.
The victory, AIC's first to open a season since 1997, gives first-year head coach Julie Zoolkoski a victory in her collegiate head coaching debut. It also marked the first-ever win over Saint Michael's in 12 tries.
Lapointe would score the game's only goal at exactly the 14-minute mark. Jamie Anderson (North Attleboro, Mass.) played a ball to the left of Saint Michael's keeper Tina Nardi (Rupert, Vt.) which Nardi came out to play. Anderson passed the ball over to Lapointe, who was making a run towards the far post. Lapointe lifted a shot into the back of the cage for the lead and the eventual win. Anderson was credited with an assist on the play, giving her a school-record 10 for her career.
Armand (right), who moved into second place on
AIC's career saves list and now has 409 stops
over her first two-plus seasons, made 15 saves as the Yellow
Jackets were outshot 21-6. Nardi finished with three saves
for Saint Michael's.
AIC returns to action Saturday when it travels
to Bryant for a 1:00 game. The next Yellow Jacket home game
is Tuesday, September 12, when Endicott visits American
International.