Bresciani Scores Twice as Women's Soccer Defeats Bentley, 4-2, in Home Finale
Links: Box Score
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Merrimack College women's soccer team wrapped up the 2014 home slate with a 4-2 victory against Bentley University at Martone-Mejail Field on Wednesday night.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 4 | Bentley 2
Records: Merrimack (7-8-2, 3-8-2 NE-10) | Bentley (2-14, 0-13 NE-10)
Location: Martone-Mejail Field | North Andover, Mass.
What They Said
Head coach Gabe Mejail: "The past few weeks have been difficult for this team, and it was a pleasure to see the girls put everything behind them to get a victory tonight. After I though the offense had been playing well, without seeing results, we finally got some goals tonight against Bentley."
How It Happened
The Warriors offense broke out after going scoreless the past two games, batting through a pouring rain for the majority of the night
In the 26th minute, the Warriors prepared for a corner kick, with Jenna Savi (Dedham, Mass.) whipping in a ball that bounded towards the far post. Senior Katie Bresciani (Hopedale, Mass.) collected the loose ball, then netted a shot into the far post to give Merrimack the early lead.
The Falcons answered less than three minutes later, as leading scorer Ana Tantum scored her first of two goals on the night to tie the game at one goal apiece.
The Warriors fought back to take the lead into halftime, as a beautiful passing from freshman Victoria Carter (Smithfield, R.I.) to Bianca Giacalone (Gloucester, Mass.) set up fellow second-year player Megan Gada (Bozrah, Conn.) for a breakaway. Gada calmly scored her second of the season to give the Warriors a one-goal advantage.
The second half began as the first 45 minutes ended. Off a rush into the danger area, freshman Andrea Rego (Dartmouth, Mass.) flicked a pass towards the far post, where Bresciani one-timed a shot into the back of the net for her second goal of the night.
Bentley would not go away. In the 64th minute, Tantum made a tremendous run into the box, placing a shot past the diving Molly Meehan (Fairfield, Conn.) to cut into Merrimack's lead, 3-2, heading towards the final minutes of regulation.
The Navy and Gold's offense would get the final say, as Rego ripped a shot from outside the box in the 78th minute, going upper ninety to score the prettiest goal of the night. Merrimack held on for the 4-2 victory.
Inside The Numbers
- Bresciani's two-goal night gives her three on the season and eight points on the year
- Carter picked up not one, but two helpers, as she had the lone assist on Rego's goal
- Rego matches Bresciani with eight points on the year after her multi-point night, and Savi picked up her 20th point on the season after her first-half assist
- Meehan recorded her second win of her rookie campaign after making five saves on the night
Up Next
Merrimack travels to conference-leading Assumption on Saturday night for the final game of the regular season. The contest is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
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