McNeil's Two-Goal Day Leads #6 Field Hockey to NE-10 Quarterfinal Victory over Bentley
Links: Box Score | Highlights
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Freshman Mary McNeil (Canton, Mass.) posted the third multi-goal game of her rookie season to lead the sixth-ranked Merrimack College field hockey team to a 4-0 victory in the Northeast-10 Quarterfinals at Martone-Mejail Field on Tuesday.
The Basics
Score: #6 Merrimack 4, Bentley 0
Records: #6 Merrimack (14-4, 10-3 NE-10) | Bentley (9-9, 7-6 NE-10)
Location: Martone-Mejail Field | North Andover, Mass.
2015 Northeast-10 Conference Field Hockey Championship Schedule:
Tuesday, November 3 – Quarterfinals
Game 2: #5 Saint Anselm at #4 Stonehill – 7:00 p.m.
Friday, November 6 - Semifinals (at high seeds)
Game 3: Winner of Game 2 at #1 Adelphi - TBD
Game 4: #3 Merrimack at #2 Assumption – 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 9 - Championship (at high seed)
Game 5: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Winner – TBD
How It Happened
McNeil would carry over the staggering offensive production she displayed all throughout her rookie season right into her first-career postseason game, as she would add her team-leading 13th and 14th goals of the season in consecutive fashion. Her first would come in the 30th minute on a scrum in front of the net after having an initial shot stopped. Sophomore Rylie Hammond (Phillipston, Mass.) would corral that rebound and fire a shot that would also be stopped, but the third time was a charm as McNeil would scoop up yet another rebound, making a slick move to her forehand and putting it by the keeper.
Her second would come in the 40th minute on a highlight-reel effort. Sophomore Taylor Simpson (York, Maine) put a shot on net from the top of the circle that was tipped by Hammond on it was to the net. A Bentley defender would make a nice defensive save in net, but the ball would ricochet from the save up into the air. With the ball above her head, McNeil would two-hand swat it out of the air with her stick and into the goal for her second.
McNeil's goal would be bookended by scores from junior Hannah Magerman (Franklin, Mass.) and senior Lindsay Dobecki (Scarborough, Maine) in the first and second half, respectively. Magerman's goal came on a gritty effort in front of the net. After having her first shot stopped by a great full-extension save, Magerman remain composed and put the rebound by the keeper for the first score of the game.
Dobecki's goal came with just over five minutes remaining in the game, extending the lead to 4-0 and serving as all but a dagger for the Falcons. She would put a hard shot on net from the right post about 10 yards out, keeping the ball low and finding the lower left goal for her seventh of the season.
On top of all the offense, the Warriors backline played outstanding in the game, allowing Bentley just one shot on goal in each half to help give senior Madison Davis (San Jose, Calif.) her fifth shutout of the season.
Inside The Numbers
- With her fifth shutout of the year on Tuesday, Davis tied her career-best total from 2013, which also ranks as the third most shutouts in a season in Merrimack College field hockey program history.
- McNeil continues to make a strong case for herself as the NE-10 Rookie of the Year as her 14 goals and nine assists put her at 37 points on the season. She is one shy of Simpson's goal total from last season, when she was named NE-10 Rookie of the Year.
- The Warriors outshot the Falcons 20-8 in the game, including 12-4 in the second half. Merrimack also outnumbered Bentley in penalty corners, 8-6.
Up Next
The Warriors advance to the NE-10 Semifinals where they will play at second-seeded Assumption on Friday night at 7:00 p.m.
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