Simpson's Hat Trick Helps Lead Field Hockey Over AIC, 5-2, in Home Opener
Links: Box Score
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Sophomore Taylor Simpson (York, Maine) scored three goals in a game for the second time as a Warrior to help the Merrimack College field hockey team beat American International, 5-2, on Tuesday evening.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 5, American Int'l 2
Records: Merrimack (2-1) | American Int'l (1-3)
Location: Martone-Mejail Field | North Andover, Mass.
How It Happened
Simpson scored the second hat trick of her career in her brief time as a Warrior, picking up right where she left off last season when she won the Northeast-10 Conference Rookie of the Year award.
The Yellow Jackets struck first, though, scoring the first two goals of the game to take a 2-0 lead. Simpson's lone first-half goal came just a minute after American International scored its second, and was a result of hard work in front of the net as she fought through a scrum and forced a rolling ball by the keeper.
Her second goal came early in the second half, taking advantage of an awarded penalty shot that she was able to fire to the back of the net. The third goal was a product of a bit more finesse, as junior Nicole Bradley (Essex, Mass.) delivered a pass right on Simpson's stick that she was then able to lift over the keepers arm and find the top right corner to complete the hat trick. Her third put the Warriors up 3-2 with five minutes remaining.
Being up one goal late in the game did not halter Merrimack's offensive pressure. A minute and a half after Simpson scored her third, junior Hannah Magerman (Franklin, Mass.) added a much needed insurance goal to put the Warriors up two as time wound down.
With less than two minutes left in regulation, senior Lindsay Dobecki (Scarborough, Maine) ended any hopes of a comeback from the Yellow Jackets as she netted her first goal of the season to put the Warriors up by three and seal the win for Merrimack.
Inside The Numbers
- Simpson's hat trick puts her at four goals on the season through the first three games, and also puts her in a tie for first in goals in the NE-10.
- With the goals starting to come, the Warriors continue to dominate their games offensively. Merrimack outshot American International 28-11, including 17-4 in the first half. On the season, the Warriors are outshooting opponents 53-28.
- Sophomore Rylie Hammond (Phillipston, Mass.) picked up her first assist of the season on Magerman's goal. Last season as a freshman, Hammond led the team in assists with six.
Up Next
The Warriors will be back on the turf on Thursday night when the No. 9 Stonehill Skyhawks visit Martone-Mejail Field for a 7:00 p.m. match
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