WALTHAM, Mass. – Grad student and captain Sam Simione (Cheshire, Conn./Cheshire HS) recorded her first career hat trick, powering Bentley University to a 6-0 win over Southern Connecticut State in Northeast-10 Conference field hockey Tuesday evening on the Bentley Turf Field.

Bentley, with its seventh win in its last nine contests, improved to 8-4 overall and 6-2 in the conference. Southern Connecticut, which had only 11 players available, dropped to 2-8 overall and 2-6 NE10.

It was a 1-0 game after the opening period with the only goal scored on a penalty stroke by sophomore Emily Crowell (Oakland, Maine/Messalonskee HS) nearly four minutes into the game.

Bentley broke the game open with three goals in the second, beginning with a blast from just inside the circle by Simione. Later in the second, junior Ava Bevilacqua (Dedham/Notre Dame Acad.) and sophomore Katie Thies (Liverpool, N.Y./Cicero North Syracuse HS) each scored their sixth goal of the season.

Both Bentley goals in the second half came off the stick of Simione, the first with 12:25 left in the third and the second with 13:20 remaining in the fourth. The three goals gave her four for the season and 12 for her career.

Bentley outshot the visitors 32-0 and finished with an 11-1 advantage in penalty corners. Janelle Ward (Kitchener, Ont.) made 11 saves for the Owls.

For Bentley, the shutout was shared by junior Madison Clark (Natick/Natick HS), who played the first three quarters, and freshman Mia Trottie (Cinnaminson, N.J./Bishop Eustace HS), who took over at the start of the fourth.

Bentley returns to action Friday night (6 pm) at No. 7 Stonehill College. The Falcons will also be at home Sunday for a Senior Day game against Molloy College.