NASHUA, N.H. – The Saint Joseph's College (2-0, 1-0 GNAC) field hockey program registered its first Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) win in the team's first contest in the new league with a convincing 6-0 triumph over Rivier University (0-4, 0-1 GNAC) on Saturday afternoon. Freshman Bailey Cutler (Lisbon Falls, Maine) scored a pair of goals in the historic victory.

The Monks owned a 2-0 advantage after the opening 35 minutes of play, as sophomore Kelsey Dumond (Lewiston, Maine) converted a penalty stroke at the 5:01 mark and senior Effie Drew (Portland, Maine) potted her second goal of the season off an Amanda Celata (Dedham, Mass.) feed in the 26th minute.

Cutler netted her first collegiate goal, with Theresa Hendrix (Scarborough, Maine/Cheverus) and Dumond earning assists, 10 minutes into the second stanza, and Celata scored her first marker of the season just over a minute later to put the Royal Blue on top by a 4-0 margin. Hendrix was credited with an assist on the play.

Freshman Hayley Winslow (Falmouth, Maine) proceeded to record her first NCAA tally  - off a Hendrix pass - at the 50:09 mark and Cutler capped the game scoring with a goal off a penalty corner in the closing minutes.

Saint Joseph's held commanding advantages in both shots (31-0) and penalty corners (25-2) in the victory. SJC sophomore keeper Emma Astbury (Bridgewater, Vt.) did not face a shot in the victory while Rivier netminder Mackenzie Flagg (Shirley, Mass.) was quite busy, recording 11 saves in a losing bid.

Saint Joseph's, which played in the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) for the last six seasons, joined the GNAC this fall in conjunction with conference sponsorship of the sport. St. Joe's is one of seven GNAC institutions, along with Anna Maria College, Johnson & Wales University, Lasell College, Mount Ida College, Rivier and Simmons College, to field a team this season and was projected, by vote of head coaches, as the preseason favorite prior to the season.

Saint Joseph's returns to action tomorrow with a non-conference contest versus Kean University (1:00 PM) at Deering Memorial Stadium in Portland.

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Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic liberal arts college, providing a supportive, personalized and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 430-acre campus on the shores of Sebago Lake, the College offers more than 40 undergraduate programs to a population of approximately 1,000 students. Saint Joseph's College Online provides certificates, undergraduate and advanced degrees for working adults through an online learning program. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.