Field Hockey Treks West, Tackles AIC in NE-10 Road Clash Saturday Afternoon
WARRIORS SEEK SIXTH STRAIGHT WIN ON THE ROAD VS. AIC SATURDAY
Links: Live Stats | Video
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Standing in third place in the league leaderboard with exactly two games to go in the regular season, the ninth-ranked Merrimack College field hockey team begins its two-game road stretch to round out the year with a trip west to face American International in a Notheast-10 Conference clash on Saturday afternoon. First whistle is set for 5 p.m.
The Basics
Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 | 5 p.m.
Records: Merrimack (11-4, 7-1 NE-10) | AIC (7-8, 2-5 NE-10)
Location: Ronald J. Abdow Field | Springfield, Mass.
Last Time Out: Bradley's Hat Trick Propels Merrimack Past Saint Michael's, 4-0
Led by a career day from freshman Nicole Bradley and another dominant display from the defense, Merrimack cruised to a 4-0 Northeast-10 Conference shutout victory in the team's regular-season home finale on Wednesday afternoon at Martone-Mejail Field.
After senior Candace Waldie scored the game's opening goal in the eighth minute, it was all Bradley from there on out, as the rookie forward – who brought in just one career assist heading into the day – exploded for a seven-point, three-goal performance to lead the way offensively.
Sophomore Madison Davis turned away the only shot she saw for her fourth shutout of the season, while junior Katie Bishop added a defensive save to keep the clean sheet intact.
Last Season vs. AIC
Led by a hat trick from Candace Waldie and a four-point day from then-senior April Daugherty, Merrimack picked up a 4-1 victory over visiting AIC on Oct. 13, 2012, at Martone-Mejail Field.
The Warriors scored three goals in the first half to take a three-score lead into the break, and both teams would exchange markers in the second stanza to settle for the final margin of victory.
Then-senior Kerri Bergquist finished the game with four saves, while sophomore Katie Bishop posted a defensive save to aid the home side.
NE-10 Standings
Top-six qualify for NE-10 Championships
- LIU Post (8-0)
- Stonehill (8-0)
- Merrimack (7-1)
- Southern Connecticut (4-5)
- Bentley (3-4)
- Saint Michael's (3-4)
- Saint Anselm (3-5)
- Adelphi (2-5)
- American Int'l (2-5)
- Assumption (1-6)
- Franklin Pierce (1-7)
The Warriors:
- Are winners of five straight, and during that span have outscored the opposition, 18-2
- Going even further back, Merrimack has won 9-of-10, with that only loss coming on the road, in double overtime, to No. 4 LIU Post
- Own a 5-3 road record in 2013 compared to a 6-1 mark at home
- Are led offensively by Waldie, whose 40 points (16g, 8a) is fourth most in NE-10
- Senior Jessica Otis ranks third in the league with 10 assists
- Sophomore Madison Davis' 1.30 goals-against average is third among all qualifying goalkeepers
- Average 3.6 goals per game and 1.63 goals per game against, both of which rank third in the conference
The Yellow Jackets:
- Will seek to snap a three-game losing streak, one that includes a pair of one-goal losses, including a 2-1 setback to Stonehill in double overtime and a one-goal loss at Assumption
- Enter 2-5 inside the conference, sitting in ninth place with three games left
- Boast a scoring offense that averages 1.9 goals per game, the seventh-best mark in the league, while averaging 14.7 shot attempts per match
- Defensively, allow 1.88 goals per game, good for the fifth-fewest in the league
- Goalkeeper Kori Huffman has been strong, posting a .800 save percentage which ranks third among all conference qualifiers
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