SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Sophomore Nicole Dion (Lunenburg/Lunenburg HS) and freshman Lisa Giorgetti (Sudbury/Lincoln-Sudbury HS) scored first-half goals to propel Bentley University to a 2-1 non-conference win over American International College in women's college field hockey action Tuesday evening at Abdow Field.

Dion, the 2009 Northeast-10 co-Freshman of the Year, wasn't the only sophomore to play a key role for Bentley in the victory. Beth Maguire (Medfield/Medfield HS), this current NE-10 Player of the Week, assisted on both goals and the defense was led by goalie Julia Powell (Southbury, Conn./ Pomeraug HS) and sweeper Kelsey Mattson (Bristol, N.H./Newfound Reg. HS).

The win was the third straight for the Falcons, who improved to 3-4 overall. AIC, which had the statistical advantage (12-8 in shots, 13-3 in penalty corners), left the field with an identical record.

Dion staked Bentley to the early lead, scoring her second of the year a little more than 13 minutes into the contest. About 12 minutes later, with 9:32 left until intermission, Giorgetti netted her first as a collegian, making it a 2-0 game.

Both were set up by Maguire, who has now figured in eight of Bentley's nine scores this fall with four goals and a like number of assists.

AIC scored its only goal about 11 minutes into the second half, junior Amanda McLean (Branford, Conn.) putting the ball in the net for the Yellow Jackets.  The home team continued to attack the Bentley goal the rest of the way, but the Falcon D was up to the challenge.

Powell, the reigning NE-10 co-Goalkeeper of the Week, finished with six saves, matching the total recorded by AIC's Kim Steiner (Little Falls, N.Y.).

Bentley coach Jessica King also singled out Mattson for her play, saying that "she had an outstanding game. She came up with several loose balls in key situations."

Bentley will be back at home on Saturday when it will open its conference schedule and hold its annual "Think Pink" day to raise money to fight breast cancer.

At Springfield 

BENTLEY 2, AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL 1

Bentley (3-4)                      2     0     --     2

AIC (3-4)                             0     1     --     1

Scoring: B, Nicole Dion (Beth Maguire) 13:13; B, Lisa Giorgetti (Maguire) 25:28; AIC, Amanda McLean (Jessica Hall) 45:49

Saves: B, Julia Powell 6; AIC, Kim Steiner 6

Shots: B 8, AIC 12

Penalty Corners: B 3, AIC 13