Game-Winning Goal

WALTHAM, Mass. – Junior Ava Bevilacqua (Dedham/Notre Dame Academy) continued her outstanding season as she scored her team-high tenth goal of the fall with 10:49 remaining in the third period to give Bentley University, the ninth-ranked team in the Penn Monto NFHCA Division II national coaches poll, its ninth straight win, 1-0 over American International College in Northeast-10 Conference field hockey Friday night on the Falcons' turf field.

The Senior Day victory secured the number two seed in the upcoming Northeast-10 Championships for the Falcons, who finished the regular season at 14-4 overall and 12-2 NE10.

Bevilacqua's goal came on a third-chance opportunity. After her first two shots were denied by AIC junior netminder Jessica Stone (Fredericksburg, Va., she lifted the ball in the upper portion of the cage and the Falcons had a 1-0 lead.

Bentley, number three in this week's NCAA Division II East Region rankings, dominated play throughout, but with the exception of that goal, could not put the ball past Stone. She was outstanding all evening, making 14 saves, including ten following intermission.

For Bentley, junior Madison Clark (Natick/Natick HS) and freshman Mia Trottie (Cinnaminson, N.J./Bishop Eustace HS) combined on the shutout with each playing a half and each making a save. The victory went to Trottie, her fourth in seven decisions.

The home team peppered the Yellow Jacket net with 23 shots and was awarded the game's only nine penalty strokes. AIC (6-12, 4-10 NE10) had only two shots in its season finale.

Bentley will host a Northeast-10 quarterfinal game Monday night at 7 pm. The opponent will be announced on Saturday.