#8 Assumption Outlasts #6 Field Hockey in NE-10 Semifinals, 1-0 Friday
Links: Box Score
WORCESTER, Mass. – Despite dominating the offensive aspects of the game, the sixth-ranked and three-seeded Merrimack College field hockey team fell to eighth-ranked and second-seeded Assumption in the Northeast-10 Conference Semifinals on Friday night.
The Basics
Score: #8 Assumption 1, #6 Merrimack 0
Records: #6 Merrimack (14-5) | #8 Assumption (14-5)
Location: Multi-Sport Stadium | Worcester, Mass.
What They Said
Head coach Anne Rounce, "We played a hard fought game tonight, and I feel like we could've gotten the win. We definitely had our opportunities and did a great job controlling our passes, we just needed to capitalize in the circle. We will take this game and learn from it as we move on."
How It Happened
The Warriors came on in this semifinal contest with a tenacity that would make anyone watching think they would come out on top. From the first whistle Merrimack maintained possession and produced the majority of the offensive pressure that was seen in the game. The Warriors would take four penalty corners and fire off four shots in the first 12 minutes of the game, but were unable to capitalize on early opportunities.
At 18:21 in the first half, the Greyhounds would capitalize on one of their few opportunities in the game. Sarah Frahm would fire a shot on goal for the Greyhounds off of a penalty corner, and senior goalkeeper Madison Davis (San Jose, Calif.) would make the initial save. But the rebound would be corralled by Belle Ives and put back for the lone score of the game.
Realizing there was plenty of time left in the game to make up one score, the Warriors did not relent on their offensive attack. They would fire five shots on goal compared to Assumption's none to close out the first half after the Greyhounds' score. They then proceeded to outshoot Assumption by an egregious 14-1 margin in the final half, but were never able to find the back of the net.
Inside The Numbers
- On top of the 14-1 shooting differential in the second half, the Warriors also outshot Assumption in the first half 9-5 for a total margin of 23-6 in the game. They also outnumbered the Greyhounds heavily in penalty corners, 17-2, including 12-0 in the second half.
- Freshman Sarah Bodzinski made her second start in net for Assumption in the semifinal, making 11 stops and posting her first-career shutout.
- In what was clearly an intense and physical game, there were a total of seven cards called on both team, which is more than the Warriors have seen all season.
Up Next
The Warriors will now turn their attention to the Division II Field Hockey Selection Show, where they will learn their NCAA Tournament fate. The show can be viewed at 1 p.m. on Monday afternoon.
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