Worcester, Mass. – Powered by another strong offensive performance, host Clark University scored the game's final three goals en route to a 6-3 win over Western New England in non-league field hockey action on Thursday evening.

Once again the Cougars were led by Mel Melkonian (Worcester, Mass.) who recorded her 20th career hat trick in the victory.

With the win Clark improves to 5-3 overall while the Golden Bears slip to 3-6 and have now lost four of their last five games.

The Golden Bears actually got on the board first when Caitlin Foster (Hyde Park, N.Y.) sent home a feed from Jaynie Mueller (Colorado Springs, Colo.) just 5:20 into the contest.

Clark eventually evened the game in the 14th minute when Madeleine Lutts (Salem, Mass.) set up Melkonian for her first goal of the game.

Brooke Kumnick (Granby, Conn.) put the visitors back in front a little more than five minutes later when she notched an unassisted marker at 18:41.

The Cougars answered back when Talia Fish (Philadelphia, Pa.) showed some excellent elusiveness to collect her second goal of the year at 25:17.

Freshman Kelly Hart (Oak Park, Ill.) gave Clark their first lead of the contest early in the second stanza after she redirected a pass from Melkonian for her first collegiate tally at 38:39.

The lead was short-lived however as Mueller registered an unassisted score at 41:53, knotting the score at 3-3.

From that point on however, it was all Clark. Melkonian scored on a fantastic move to give the Cougars a 4-3 lead at 44:47. Hart then banged home her second goal of the night less than two minutes later giving Clark some breathing room at 5-3.

Melkonian then wrapped up the scoring when she took advantage of a turnover deep in the Western New England end and blasted a shot past Kaitlyn Hall (Pawtucket, R.I.) for her 18th goal of the year and 98th of her career.

Hall, nevertheless, was outstanding in goal for the Golden Bears, turning back 14 shots as the Cougars peppered her with 27 shots – 21 of which were on goal.

Clark netminder Jordannah Saunders (Scarborough, Maine) made three saves in the win for the Cougars, who have scored 12 goals in their last two contests.

Western  New England will look to return to the win column on Saturday when they play host to Salve Regina, while Clark hosts Regis College on Saturday as well.