Strong Start Propels Field Hockey to 4-0 Victory over #4 Stonehill
NORTH ANDOVER, MA – The Merrimack field hockey team claimed its third consecutive victory over a ranked opponent Saturday afternoon at Warrior Field with a 4-0 win over No. 4 Stonehill. The Warriors improved to 3-1 on the year while the Skyhawks dipped to 2-3.
The Warriors struck early in the game, tallying a goal 2:15 into the first half. April Daugherty (Wakefield, RI) knocked in a rebound after Jessica Otis' (Pittsford, NY) shot was saved.
Daugherty netted her second marker of the game 2:54 later as she dispossessed a Skyhawk defender and broke in on goal alone. The junior slipped the ball past the rushing goalie and into the cage to elevate Merrimack's advantage to two goals.
With 14 minutes remaining, Otis rifled a cross from the left side which found its way to the stick of Sarah Salatto (Guilford, CT). Salatto one-timed a shot past the goalie for her second goal of the year.
The Warriors went into the half owning a 3-0 lead. Stonehill held a slight 9-7 edge in shots through 35 minutes of play.
Victoria DeLacey (Charlton, MA) notched her second career goal 14:18 into the second half. Otis set up DeLacey at the top of the penalty area unmarked and the senior sent the ball bouncing into the net, putting Merrimack ahead 4-0.
Kerri Bergquist (Mashpee, MA) delivered another standout performance between the pipes for the Warriors. The junior made 19 saves, including 15 in the second period, to earn her second-straight shutout and third win of the year.
The Skyhawks racked up 28 shots on the day while the home team fired 13. Stonehill finished the contest with a 21-4 advantage in penalty corners.
"I thought we set the tone strongly in the first few minutes of the game with two quick goals," said head coach Anne Rounce. "The win today was huge for us but now our focus is on conference play which starts soon."
Merrimack travels to Colchester, VT to take on Saint Michael's in non-league action September 14.
