Field Hockey Tops Assumption on the Road, 2-1
Links: Box Score
WORCESTER, Mass. – The Merrimack College field hockey team battled to a 2-1 victory over Assumption on Saturday afternoon, coming away an even 1-1 from their two-game road trip to start the 2015 season.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 2, Assumption 1
Records: Merrimack (1-1) | Assumption (1-2)
Location: Multi-Sport Stadium | Worcester, Mass.
What They Said
Head coach Anne Rounce, "Many different players stepped up and changed the dynamic of this game as they went in. Assumption played great and it could have gone either way. We moved the ball well and played hard in front of the net, but there were still missed opportunities that we need to put in the net.
How It Happened
Assumption would get on the board first and early in the game, scoring three minutes into the first half to go up 1-0. But much like the Warriors first game, they would not allow another score for the remainder of the match.
Just one minute later, sophomore Taylor Simpson (York, Maine) responded with a goal of her own to tie the game up. Simpson, the Northeast-10 Conference Rookie of the Year in 2014, picked up where she left off last season, providing offensive pressure for the Warriors. The next 31 minutes of the half would go by scoreless.
The second half was all about quality defense and goalkeeping. Sophomore goalkeeper Kayla Raneri (Reading, Mass.) played great down the stretch, making some big save when it counted for the Warriors. The backline had another great game in their end of the field, applying pressure to every chance Assumption would try to create.
In the 62nd minute of the game, freshman Mary McNeil (Canton, Mass.) would find the back of the net for the first goal of her Warrior career in just her second game. The goal would come off a nice assist from junior Hannah Magerman (Franklin, Mass.). That goal would be the game-winner as Merrimack would shut the Greyhounds out in the second half and go on to win.
Inside The Numbers
- Simpson's goal is the first of the year for her. Last year in her rookie season, she scored 15 times
- Assumption outshot Merrimack 13-8 in the contest, and Raneri would make 7 saves to get her squad the win
- Merrimack continues to create offensive opportunities for themselves. The Warriors outnumbered the Greyhounds in penalty corners, 12-7.
Up Next
Merrimack returns to North Andover for their home opener against American International on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
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