Field Hockey falls in home opener to Simmons, 6-0

(Nashua, N.H.) The Rivier University Field Hockey team graced the Raider turf for the first time this season as they hosted 2014 Great Northeast Athletic Conference Champion, Simmons College in each school's first GNAC contest of the year. Simmons scored three goals in each half en route to a 6-0 win over the Raiders.

Rivier freshman goalkeeper Stevie Charest (Lisbon, Maine) made 12 saves on 19 shots on net as the Sharks unleashed a total of 41 shots in the game. Classmate goaltender Emily Foster (West Lebanon, N.H.) made one save on two shots in her 20 minutes of action.

Simmons opened the scoring early in the first stanza as Jillian Mercer connected for her first of the game on a pass from Amy Cronin inside the 3rd minute. Mercer would add another tally, this time from Jenna Gagnon at 7:43. The Sharks then closed out the first half with a Cronin goal (unassisted) at 28:57.

Simmons added three more goals in the second half as Julie Saltaamartini, Meghan Fontaine and Mary Neidhardt all were able to sneak one past the Rivier netminders.

Rivier, 0-2 overall and 0-1 GNAC, will return to action on Tuesday afternoon as they travel across town to battle Daniel Webster College in a 4pm non-conference contest. Simmons, 5-0 overall and 1-0 GNAC, will continue the road trip north as they will be in Waterville, Maine for a non-conference tilt with Thomas College.