LEICESTER, Mass. – For the first time in program history, the Becker Hawks are headed to the NCAA Tournament, as a second half scoring surge by the Hawks propelled them to a 15-4 victory over the Elms Blazers on Sunday afternoon in the New England Collegiate Conference Championship Game.

THE BASICS

May 2, 2021

Alumni Field

Score: Becker 15 – Elms 4

Records: The Becker College Hawks 8-4 | The Elms College Blazers 4-3

GAME SUMMARY

The second half was proved to be the decisive half of the Championship Game following a close first half between Becker and Elms, which saw the Hawks leading 6-4.

But over the course of the next 30 minutes, the Hawks shut out the Blazers, scoring nine goals in the second half on their way to claiming the NECC Championship and a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Hawks junior Clare Conway (Billerica, Mass.) got the scoring started in the second half, scoring 3:40 into the half to give the Hawks a 7-4 lead.

The game hung in the balance over the next 10 minutes and both teams dug in defensively while rain began to fall in the Title Game.

But four goals over the next 2:24 helped the Hawks pull away further from the Blazers. Four different Hawks scored in the run that saw Becker take control 11-4.

Another three-goal run over 48 seconds in the final minutes left little doubt in the outcome of the Championship Game, as the Hawks led 14-4.

Becker capped off the 9-0 second half with another goal from Conway with 3:38 remaining as the Hawks are headed for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.

"It was an awesome atmosphere out here at Alumni Field today," said Conway, who was named the NECC Tournament MVP. "We wanted to come out here today and not only win it for the team but for Becker Athletics as a whole. We wouldn't want it to end any other way."

The second half surge from the Hawks offense was matched on the defensive end as the Hawks outshot the Blazers 17-5 in the final 30 minutes.

"Our defense works really hard and it's a group that came together to be better at the end of the game today," said Hawks goalie Chloe Isola (Oviedo, Fla.).

Defensive presence was key in the second half as the Hawks tightened up to finish 6-for-7 on clears while getting 13 ground balls to the Blazers seven.

"Our team is really close and well bonded, it's truly like a small family," said Hawks junior Kylian Kelly (Shrewsbury, Mass.). "COVID has brought us closer together to make the sacrifices needed to get here, it's what brought us together."

Possession numbers in the second half favored the Hawks as the NECC's team leader in draw controls gained possession on eight of the second half's 10 draw controls.

"We talked at halftime about not letting up defensively and focusing on the slide because we knew where the attack was coming from," said Head Coach Stephanie Blakely. "But the key was draw controls in that second half. More draw controls means more possession and controlling the clock which helped us keep the ball away from Elms in that second half."

FOR THE HAWKS

• Conway finished the game with five goals and three assists including becoming the seventh player in program history to score 100 goals in a career.
• Senior Arianna Calouro (East Providence, R.I.) scored four times for the Hawks and was named to the NECC All-Tournament Team.
• Kelly scored twice and added three ground balls and a game-high eight draw controls.
• Isola made eight saves for the Hawks while not allowing a goal in the final 32:25 of the match. She's won her seventh straight game and improves to 8-4.

FOR THE BLAZERS

• Sophomore Anna-Elise Pikul (Belchertown, Mass.) scored two goals for the Blazers. She added six ground balls and three draw controls.
• Juniors Arianna Callahan (West Springfield, Mass.) and Elise Ciarcia (Glastonbury, Conn.) both scored a goal for Elms. Callahan added an assist for the Blazers.
• Junior Emma Walsh (Dracut, Mass.) made 16 saves for the Blazers and finished the season at 3-3.

UP NEXT

The Hawks are headed for the NCAA Tournament and will find out their opponent during the NCAA Women's Lacrosse Selection Show at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, exclusively on NCAA.com.

NECC All-Tournament Team

Lindsey Fairbank - Mitchell

Hannah Corrigan - Mitchell

Lindsey Rich - New England

Giuliana Kevlin - New England

Bryce McDonald - Elms

Taylor Borla - Elms

Anna-Elise Pikul - Elms

Emma Walsh - Elms

Kylian Kelly - Becker

Julia Ravenelle - Becker

Arianna Calouro - Becker

Tournament MVP: Clare Conway - Becker