Field Hockey Chalks Up Program's First Win over Bentley, 1-0
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.- The Merrimack field
hockey team returned home for the first time since September 28 to
defeat Bentley 1-0 for the first time in program history Tuesday
evening at Warrior Field. The Warriors improved to 5-7 overall and
2-3 in the Northeast-10 Conference with the win. The Falcons fall
to 5-8 on the year and 2-3 in the league with the loss.
The two teams traded shots in the first half but neither side
could tack on a goal. Bentley came close to netting the
game's first score midway through the first period but Jenna Barbato
(Watertown, Mass.) registered a defensive save, denying
the shot that slipped past Merrimack goalkeeper Kerri Bergquist
(Mashpee, Mass.).
In the second stanza, the Warriors capitalized on a fast break
to notch a go-ahead goal with 11 minutes remaining. Jen
Otis (Penacook, N.H.) corralled a ball on the endline and
slapped a pass across the mouth of the goal beyond the reach of the
goalkeeper. April Daugherty
(Lincoln, R.I.) took advantage of the open net and crashed
the cage. Daugherty tapped the ball into the back of the net to
give the home team a 1-0 advantage.
Bergquist turned aside all six shots she faced en route to
earning her fifth victory of the season and her second shutout on
the year. Julia Powell made two saves between the pipes for
Bentley.
The Falcons held the edge in shots, 14-9, and in shots on goal,
6-3. Bentley also earned four more penalty corners than the
Warriors, 7-3.
Earlier this season, Merrimack picked up its first win over
Stonehill in program history. The Warriors downed the No. 3
Skyhawks 2-1 September 11.
Merrimack will hit the road for the next 12 days as it closes
out the month with three away games. The Warriors next match is
slated for October 27 at Saint Michael's.
