#8 Field Hockey Rallies but Falls Short against Assumption, 3-2, Thursday Night
#8 Field Hockey Rallies but Falls Short against Assumption, 3-2, Thursday Night
Links: Box Score
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Trailing by three goals with 20 minutes to play, the eighth-ranked Merrimack College field hockey team responded with two goals less than two minutes apart, but the hosts' rally ultimately came up just short, as visiting Assumption upended the Warriors, 3-2, on Thursday night at Martone-Mejail Field.
The Basics
Score: Assumption 3, #8 Merrimack 2
Records: #8 Merrimack (4-2) | Assumption (3-2)
Location: Martone-Mejail Field | North Andover, Mass.
What They Said
Head Coach Anne Rounce: "I was disappointed with how we approached the game and I thought Assumption came prepared to battle and we never matched their intensity. Conference play begins next weekend and we have to address that issue if we have any chance at achieving our goals."
How It Happened
After Merrimack's defense went over 250 minutes without surrendering a goal, Assumption finally broke up that stretch with two goals in the first half, as Kiley Colucci and Allison Sheahan tallied markers at 16:43 and 33:05, respectively, to send the Greyhounds into the intermission with a 2-0 lead.
At the start of the second half, the Warriors controlled most of the momentum and generated a slew of golden chances to get on the board, but Greyhound goalkeeper Lauren Neilan was brilliant, turning in a 15-save performance on the night while benefitting from a defensive save to limit the Merrimack offense.
Finally, Merrimack broke through at the 57:10 mark, as freshman Mikayla Panneton (Andover, Mass.) tapped in a shot by junior Katrina Squeri (Chelmsford, Mass.) over the goal line and in for her first collegiate marker, getting the Warriors on the board.
Less than two minutes later, freshman Taylor Simpson (York, Maine) ricocheted a blast by senior Katie Bishop (Conway, N.H.) on a penalty corner into the right side of the net, suddenly giving the hosts life as Assumption's lead was trimmed to one.
But that elusive game-tying goal never came, as the Warriors' four-game win streak came to an end as the final horn sounded.
Inside The Numbers
- Merrimack out-shot the Greyhounds by a 32-18 margin, with 18 of those on net, but Neilan recorded 15 saves on the night and got a key defensive save down the stretch to preserve the lead
- Junior Madison Davis (San Jose, Calif.) fell to 4-2 on the year despite recording eight saves, while sophomore Sarah Sparks (Falmouth, Maine) posted a defensive save for the hosts
- Simpson led all players with 11 shot attempts – five on net – while classmate Rylee Hammond (Phillipston, Mass.) posted six shots on net
- Merrimack held a commanding lead in penalty corners, 17-8, but would only score off one of them
Up Next
Merrimack rounds out September with a road trip to Manchester where it will meet Southern New Hampshire for the first time in program history next Tuesday (Sept. 30). 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.
