PAXTON, Mass.— It was a homecoming of sorts for freshman forward Alex Kallgren (Dudley, MA), who made her first start a memorable one by scoring her first collegiate goal with ten minutes left to lift the Eastern Connecticut State University field hockey team to a 1-0 non-conference win over Anna Maria College Thursday afternoon at AMCAT Field.

At right: Alex Kallgren (Photo by Liam Murphy)

Kallgren, who grew up just outside Paxton, scored on her third and final shot of the match. Kallgren took the hit-in on a penalty corner that went to junior midfielder Laura Chicorka (Enfield), and later took a return past at the left post from senior forward Deisy Naranjo (Washington Heights, NY) with just under ten minutes to give Eastern (1-1) its first win of the year and seventh in the last seven years against Anna Maria (1-2). The point was the first of the year for Naranjo, who missed all of last year with a knee injury after leading the team in scoring as a junior in 2012.

The AMCATS dominated the first half and outshot the Warriors 9-2, forcing ECSU goaltender Samantha Scavo (Redding) to make three first-half saves. The Warriors did not record a shot on goal in the first 35 minutes, but emerged with the win thanks to the sixth career shutout in 16 starts for Scavo, who made six saves.

After chalking up 32 shots in their home-opener last Saturday, the AMCATS were limited to 12 against Eastern, including only three in the second half. Both teams finished with 12 shots and five penalty corners.

It was Eastern's fifth shutout in this seven-match series.

 Eastern hosts Lasell College Saturday at noon at the Mansfield Outdoor Complex. The Warriors are 8-1 all-time against the Lazers and return nine starters from the team which posted a 1-0 victory a year ago at Newton, MA.