CHICOPEE, Mass. -- The Mount Ida College field hockey team outlasted the hosting Blazers of Elms College by a final score of 1-0 on Thursday night. With the loss, the Blazers move to 1-6 on the year, while the Mustangs improve to 5-4 overall.

The first half saw a clear thirty five minutes of scoreless action as each team contested up and down the field in search of a scoring opportunity. The Blazers held the shot ratio in the first half posting five shots to Mount Ida's three. Elms saw scoring opportunities throughout the half as they clinched their first corner of the contest two minutes in, but were unable to capitalize as sophomore Marissa Mizzone (Orange, Conn.) sent a shot wide of the cage. 

At the 13:09 marker sophomore Madison Messier (Warren, Mass.) sent a bullet inside the 18 for the Blazer's in which Mustang freshmen keeper Grace Ryan (Livermore Falls, Me.) deflected to aid in the Mount Ida pursuit. Ultimately both squads would enter the second posting a blank scoreboard.

As the second half got underway the Mustangs picked up momentum, pressuring the ball on all sides and forcing lanes up the field.

At the 40:02 mark, Mount Ida was able to sink the lone goal of the contest off the stick of sophomore Sarah Hemstock (Northford, Conn.) who chipped a high ball to the back of the cage and over the head of Elms sophomore keeper Jillian Lapponese (Enfield, Conn.).

Despite Blazer efforts the Mustangs were able to hold onto the 1-0 clean sheet to the final buzzer to walk away with the victory.

The Mustangs outshot the Blazers, 11-5, during the contest. Lapponese stopped five shots for the Blazers, while Ryan posted three saves on the day.

The Mustangs will face off against GNAC foe Rivier University on Saturday with a 12:00 PM start time back at home on Alumni Field while Elms will return to action on Saturday as well when they will play Bay Path at Leary Field beginning at 11:00 AM.