WENHAM, Mass.—A goal from senior defender Bailey Balmer (Perkasie, Pa.) at the end of the first half was all Gordon would need to beat rival New England College in field hockey action on Thursday night at the Brigham Athletic Complex.

The Fighting Scots improve to 2-2 on the season just one day after losing a heartbreaker to MIT in double overtime. NEC also moves to 2-2 on the season.

Neither offense was able to get much going for a majority of the first half with most of the game being played between the 25-yard lines on each side. The Fighting Scots started to put a run together toward the end of the half, but the Pilgrims' defense held firm against Gordon's pursuit.

With time running down at the end of the period, Gordon earned a penalty corner taken from the left side. The inbounds pass found Alyssa Doucett (Barrington, N.H.) at the top of the key, who sent a ball off a defenders stick to a wide open Balmer. The defender had moved up to keep the ball from exiting the circle and found herself in the right place at the right time. Balmer took two touches toward the goal and fired a low ball that jumped the stick of a defender into the back of the net as the horn sounded on the scoreboard.

Gordon had a couple of opportunities in the second half to increase its lead, but NEC keeper Michaela Clark (Dorchester, Mass.) made several key saves to keep the Scots out of the net.

The Fighting Scots held a 17-3 shot advantage for the game, but Clark's nine saves on the night made it a close affair. Shannon Hicks (Scarborough, Maine) had a save, while Abigail Seay (Marblehead, Mass.) made one defensive save.

Gordon is off for the next six days until they head to Standish, Maine for an 8:00 p.m. showdown with Saint Joseph's. NEC hosts Morrisville State on Sunday for a noon tip.