WELLESLEY, Mass. – Sophomore Hannah Maisano (Gambrills, Md.)  tallied a goal and an assist as Wellesley College field hockey opened the New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) season with a 3-1 victory over visiting WPI on Saturday at the Wellesley Fields Complex. 

The Blue also got goals from juniors Haley Chrobock (Branchville, N.J.) and Arielle Mitropoulos (Cambridge, Mass.) to improve to 4-1 overall (1-0 NEWMAC). WPI drops to 3-2 overall and 0-1 in conference.

Chrobock scored the first goal of the game at 5:21, tipping in a shot in traffic from Maisano. However, the game would head into the half tied, as WPI evened the score at 19:06, when Abby O'Sullivan (Walpole, Mass.)  found Izzy Garver (Owls Head, Maine) on a pass in front to make the game 1-1.

Wellesley countered with two unanswered goals in the second half to pick up the victory. Maisano scored an unassisted marker, and the eventual game-winner just 1:47 into the second half, finishing on a loose ball in front. Mitropoulos made the lead 3-1 Blue at 66:12 of the second, tipping in a sweep from the top from first year Carson Dennis (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.).

Wellesley first year goalkeeper Janelle Sullivan (Philadelphia, Pa.) earned her first career win in the game, making five saves in relief of starter Maggie Connelly (Duxbury, Mass.). Connelly made one save in the first half. WPI junior Karen Mushrall (Mariaville, Maine) turned back three Wellesley shots to drop to 3-2 on the year.

WPI finished with a 7-4 edge in shots, but the Blue made the most of their opportunities, scoring three times on four shots. The Blue had a slight edge in penalty corners, at 5-4. 

Wellesley will play again tomorrow, Sunday, September 17, at 1:00 PM at the University of New England. WPI is scheduled to play Wednesday, September 20, at Johnson & Wales.