Field Hockey: Roth's hat-trick propels Raiders past Becker

(Leicester, Mass.) The Rivier University Field Hockey team earned an impressive 4-0 victory on the road this afternoon against Becker College. The win moves the Raiders' overall record to 3-9 while the Hawks are still in search of their first win at 0-13. 

Rivier got on the board first in the 13th minute when junior forward Linsey Roth (Tyngsboro, Mass. / Tyngsboro) found the back of the back of the net for her third goal of the year at the end of a two-on-one breakaway, assisted by sophomore forward Katherine Papele (Swampscott, Mass. / Swampscott).

Roth struck again in the 20th minute, recovering a Becker defensive save and taking the shot herself to put the Raiders ahead 2-0. That score would hold up going into the break.

Becker had a defensive save in the first half from freshman midfielder Abigail Leahy (Charlton, Mass. / Shepherd Hill Regional).

In the second half, the Raiders started to pull away late. Rivier sophomore back Megan Antun (Chelmsford, Mass. / Chelmsford) took a pass from the center to the inside of the left post, assisted by freshman forward Nicole Mansfield (Acton, Mass. / Acton-Boxborough). It was Antun's first goal of the season.

Then just 34 seconds later, Roth completed the hat trick as she took a pass from sophomore midfielder Jaclyn Fraser (Wilmington, Mass. / Wilmington) and split the defense to finish strong at the net, putting Rivier up 4-0.

Rivier sophomore goalkeeper Erica Royle (Kingston, Mass. / Kingston) finished with five saves for the Raiders. 

Becker junior goalkeeper Alexis Barry (Manchester, N.H. / Manchester Central), entered the game ranked fifth in the country in saves per game, recorded 12 stops in net for the Hawks. The Raiders outshot the Hawks, 19-7.

 Rivier will be back in the Worcester area on Saturday when they play at Anna Maria College in a 10:00 a.m. game. Becker is back on the field on Sunday when they host Bay Path University in a 12:00 p.m. NECC showdown.