SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Backed by goals from sophomores Reilly Bialko (Shickshinny, Pa./Northwest Area) and Julia Battino (Haddonfield, N.J./Haddonfield Memorial), the New Haven field hockey team won its second straight game for the first time in program history with a big 2-1 victory at American International on Saturday. The win pushes the Chargers to 3-4 overall, and 3-1 in Northeast-10 play. Junior goalkeeper Natalie Shaker (Newtown, Conn./Newtown) made six saves, as New Haven outshot AIC 10-7.

New Haven jumped on the board first in the 14th minute, when it was awarded a penalty stoke following a penalty corner. Bialko buried the opportunity for her first tally of the season to put New Haven up 1-0.

AIC quickly drew even just over a minute later and the game remained tied through the end of the half.

With the score still knotted 1-1 through three quarters, the Chargers were awarded another penalty stroke in the 49th minute, which Battino scored for her team-leading third goal of the year, which proved to be the game winner.

Shaker made the mark stand up, stopping two quick shots in succession less than a minute later to preserve the one-goal win.

New Haven will hit the road once again for its next matchup on Wednesday afternoon at No. 10 Adelphi.