#8 Field Hockey Hosts Bentley Tuesday Night (7 p.m.)
#8 Field Hockey Hosts Bentley Tuesday Night (7 p.m.)
Links: Live Stats | Watch (Free!) | Follow @MerrimackFH
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Having not allowed a goal in its last two contests, the eighth-ranked Merrimack College field hockey team continues its four-game homestand Tuesday night, as the Warriors renew their rivalry with nearby Bentley under the lights at Martone-Mejail Field. First whistle is set for 7 p.m.
The Basics
Date/Time: Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2014 | 7 p.m.
Records: #8 Merrimack (3-1) | Bentley (1-2)
Location: Martone-Mejail Field | North Andover, Mass.
Last Time Out: Merrimack Knocks Off SCSU, 4-0
Merrimack used a pair of goals from senior Katie Bishop and four overall to knock off Southern Connecticut State, 4-0, in a Friday afternoon matchup at Martone-Mejail Field.
With the Warriors leading by two goals at the break, Bishop put SCSU away with her first two goals of the season, first on a penalty stroke and then again at the end of a penalty corner, as Merrimack posted its second consecutive shutout win at home this week.
In an evenly paced contest, Merrimack and Southern Connecticut trudged through a physical opening half that saw both sides post a number of scoring chances, but neither broke through until freshman Kylee Duteau deflected in a long send from Bishop into the right side of the cage at the 27:20 mark.
Two minutes later, junior Lindsay Dobecki was the beneficiary of a ball that rebounded right back to her, and the forward managed to find the black for her first collegiate marker to send the Navy and Gold into the break leading by two after junior goalkeeper Madison Davis kept SCSU off the board with a pad save on a penalty stroke.
Merrimack dominated the second half shot chart with a 14-5 edge in shot attempt, while Davis finished with six saves and benefitted from a defensive save by sophomore Elizabeth Egan to preserve the shutout.
Last Season vs. Bentley
Merrimack and Bentley faced off twice last season, both times as meetings that pitted nationally ranked teams against one another, but the Warriors came away victorious in both showdowns.
To open the year, Merrimack squandered a late one-goal lead in regulation but still wound up on top after then-sophomore Christine Zubkus tallied the overtime game-winner off a rebound back on Sept. 5, 2013, in Waltham.
About a month later, Merrimack welcomed Bentley to campus for a conference clash, but the Warriors dominated from start to finish, outshooting the Falcons by a 20-5 margin while holding a 9-0 edge in penalty corners en route to a 3-0 shutout win at home.
The Falcons:
- Have faced a challenging slate to start the year, falling on the road to perennial national contender West Chester, 3-1, before winning at home against AIC a week later
- Most recently suffered a 4-0 shutout loss to reigning league runner-up Stonehill at home and enter the day 1-2 overall
- Have registered 11 defensive saves as a team – most in the conference
- Are led by senior forward Gina Lirange (3g, 1a, 7 pts) up front, while junior Katie Kelley and sophomore Evelyn Schaedel have both seen action in net, with the former starting the previous three games (2.53 GAA, .773 SV%)
Up Next
Merrimack concludes its season-long four-game homestand with a Thursday (Sept. 25) night clash against Assumption at 7 p.m.
--
For continuing coverage of Merrimack College Athletics, visit MerrimackAthletics.com and follow the Warriors on Twitter and on Facebook.
