CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Hartford field hockey team got their first win of the 2026 season over Elms College in a dominating 6-0 fashion on Tuesday night. The game saw sophomore Kyra Benard (Agawam, Mass.) break the Hawks' single-game goals record, with four in the victory.
Rapid Recap:
- Benard kicked off the game with a quick goal in the first two minutes. Benard found the back of the net again, only a minute later to give the Hawks an early 2-0 lead. The Blazers would get their first chance in the 7th minute with a shot by Olivia Ward, but freshman Leah Miller (Guilderland, N.Y.) made the save. Freshman Olive Thatcher (Keene, N.H.) kept Hartford's momentum going, converting on the feed by sophomore Ashley Taylor (South Deerfield, Mass.) for her first career goal to give the team a 3-0 lead after one quarter.
- The Hawks were held scoreless in the early portion of the 2nd, after shots from Taylor were denied. Benard ended the scoring drought with her third goal of the half coming in the 25th minute scoring after a rebound. Hartford entered halftime in the driver's seat with a commanding 4-0 lead.
- Hartford would control the third quarter getting a couple shots denied by Ashlyn Cullity. In the 43rd minute freshman Alexina Lentes (Agawam, Mass.) added to Hartford's lead, tallying her first career goal and the team's fifth of the game.
- In the fourth quarter Benard finished off the game with her fourth goal of the game. The Hawks would go on to win 6-0, giving them a 1-2 record on the season.
Post Game Press:
"This performance was real important for us because we wanted a win going into conference play", said sophomore Kyra Benard (Agawam, Mass.). "It showed us we are capable of a strong win. This win will give us momentum into the next game and to get another big win."
Inside the Numbers:
- Benard led the Hawks with four goals on 10 shots and broke the Hawks' single-game goals record.
- Taylor added an assist to the points column as she picked up her fifth in her career.
- Thatcher and Lentes both tallied their first career goals as Hawks, while Olive added her first collegiate assist.
- Miller had two first-half saves as she picked up her first collegiate win. Sophomore Carolyn Somers (Worcester, Mass.) finished out the shutout for the Hawks in the second half.
- Ashlyn Cullity had 13 saves in the loss for Elms.
- Hartford outshot the Blazers 20-2 and had 11 corners to Elms' six.
Up Next:
The Hawks will head to Dudley, Mass. on Friday for a conference match up against Nichols College at 5:00 PM.
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