Waldie, Otis Help No. 9 Field Hockey Hold Off Assumption, 2-1, on Senior Night
SENIORS WALDIE, OTIS'S GOALS LEAD WARRIORS OVER GREYHOUNDS ON SENIOR NIGHT
Links: Box Score | Senior Night Gallery
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – All even at a goal apiece with less than 10 minutes to go, senior forward Jessica Otis (Pittsford, N.Y.) ripped a stick drive on a penalty corner from the top of the circle through traffic and into the net, and that was enough to lead the ninth-ranked Merrimack College field hockey team to a 2-1, Northeast-10 Conference victory against Assumption College on Senior Night at Martone-Mejail Field.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 2, Assumption 1
Records: Merrimack (10-4, 6-1 NE-10) | Assumption (4-10, 0-6 NE-10)
Location: Martone-Mejail Field | North Andover, Mass.
How It Happened
In a fast-paced and back-and-forth conference clash, a pair of Merrimack seniors – on Senior Night, appropriately enough – provided all the offense the Navy and Gold would need, with senior Candace Waldie (North Andover, Mass.) notching her team-leading 15th strike of the year in the first half before Otis won it with her blast in the 62nd minute.
The Warriors broke a scoreless tie on Waldie's tip-in goal after a feed from sophomore Katrina Squeri (Chelmsford, Mass.) at 24:22, but visiting Assumption tied it up on a late first-half strike in the 34th minute, sending both sides into the break evened up at 1-1.
The Greyhounds came out flying to start the second stanza, but sophomore Madison Davis (San Jose, Calif.) enjoyed one of her finest performances of the fall, turning aside seven of the visitors' shots on target while benefitting from a huge defensive save from senior Sarah Dunbar (Hubbardston, Mass.) to limit Assumption to just the one goal.
Finally, after both sides traded scoring chances through the majority of the final 35 minutes, Merrimack was awarded its second penalty corner of the game – and first since the first half – with less than nine minutes to go. Sophomore Christine Zubkus (Dover, N.H.) sent the insert feed to Otis at the top of the circle, and the Pittsford, N.Y., native wound and fired and beat Assumption keeper Heather Philbrick (3 saves) for the game-winner.
NE-10 Standings
Top-six qualify for postseason
1. LIU Post (7-0)
2. Stonehill (6-0)
3. Merrimack (6-1)
4. Saint Michael's (3-2)
5. So. Connecticut (3-4)
T6. Bentley (2-3)
T6. American Int'l (2-3)
8. Saint Anslem (2-4)
A Closer Look
- Assumption out-shot Merrimack 16-9 on the night and held a 4-2 edge in penalty corners
- Meghan Sullivan's six goal of the season (from Taylor Chase) helped the Greyhounds tie the game in the 34th minute
- Davis' eight saves tied her previous season- and career-high
- Waldie led all Warriors with three shots, while Kiley Colucci registered a game-high four shot attempts for the visitors
Up Next
With three games to go in the regular season, Merrimack closes its home slate with an important league battle against Saint Michael's – who it beat, 4-0, on the road back on Sept. 25 – next Wednesday, Oct. 23, at Martone-Mejail Field. First whistle is set for 4 p.m.
--
For continuing coverage of Merrimack College Athletics, visit MerrimackAthletics.com and follow the Warriors on Twitter and on Facebook.
