#8 Field Hockey Stymies Saint Michael's, Claims Fourth-Straight Victory
COLCHESTER, VT- The #8 Merrimack field hockey team cruised to a 3-0 non-league road victory over Saint Michael's Wednesday afternoon at Duffy Field. The Warriors improved to 4-1 on the season and extended their winning-streak to four games. The Purple Knights drop to 0-6 overall with the loss.
Merrimack's first shot of the game found its way into the cage as Elizabeth Lincoln (Unity, ME) notched her first goal of the 2011 campaign 5:25 into the contest. Lincoln knocked in a shot by Katie Zubkus (Dover, NH) that was off the mark to give the Warriors an early 1-0 advantage.
The visitors gripped to their 1-0 lead heading into the halftime intermission. Merrimack attempted nine shots in the opening 35 minutes while Saint Michael's managed seven.
Jen Otis (Penacook, NH) added to Merrimack's lead as she tallied the second goal of the game 16:45 into the second half. Jessica Otis (Pittsford, NY) slotted a cross from the wing to Otis at the top of the box. The junior fired a shot past the Purple Knights' goalkeeper for her first marker of the year, lifting the Warriors to a 2-0 edge.
Six minutes later, Otis potted her second goal of the game to raise the visitors' lead to 3-0. After taking a pass from Zubkus and weaving through the Saint Michael's defense, Otis rifled a shot into the net from 10 yards out to cap off the scoring.
Merrimack finished with a 16-10 advantage in shots on the day. The Purple Knights edged the Warriors in penalty corners earned with a 6-5 margin.
Kerri Bergquist (Mashpee, MA) stopped all 10 shots that she faced in the contest to record her third-consecutive shutout. Bergquist has turned aside each of the last 30 shots that have come her way.
"We played really well today and I was pleased with our energy level after a long bus ride," said head coach Anne Rounce. "Jen did a great job today in the center and I was happy with the way that she stepped up."
The Warriors return home to take on American International in a non-conference clash September 17 at 7 pm.
