NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Junior Gina Lirange (Auburn, Mass,/Auburn HS) scored her 11th goal of the year in the 56th minute and sophomore Katie Kelley (Walpole, Mass./Walpole HS) posted her conference-leading seventh shutout as Bentley University edged Southern Connecticut State, 1-0, in Northeast-10 Conference field hockey Saturday afternoon at Jess Dow Field.

The win boosted Bentley, ranked tenth nationally in the latest Penn Monto/NFHCA Division II coaches' poll, to 10-6 overall and 4-4 in the NE-10. It also gave the Falcons a one-game lead over a trio of teams in the battle for fourth place in the conference and a first-round home game in the fast approaching NE-10 playoffs.

Following more than 55 scoreless minutes, Lirange got the Falcons on the scoreboard when she tipped the ball into the cage following a penalty corner. Sophomore Becca Moore (Belmont, Mass./ Belmont HS) was credited with an assist on Lirange's fourth game winner of the fall.

Kelley made three saves en route to the shutout, and was aided by a pair of second-half defensive saves, by senior Nichole Black (Dover, N.H./Dover HS) and sophomore Molly Rowe (Newburyport, Mass./Newburyport HS). The first came in the 49th minute and the second two minutes later.

Southern Connecticut State (4-12, 4-6 NE-10) had the statistical edge (13-11 shots, 12-7 in penalty corners) and received five saves from sophomore Audrey Dolloff (Raynham, Mass.).

Bentley will play its final home game of the regular season Tuesday at 6 pm against St. Michael's, one of the teams a game back of the Falcons in the battle for fourth.