Hammond's Two Goals Lead Field Hockey Past St. Michael's, 3-1, in NE-10 Home Opener
Links: Highlights | Box Score | Rylie Hammond Interview
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Sophomore Rylie Hammond (Phillipston, Mass.) had the second multi-goal game of her young career to push the Merrimack College field hockey team past St. Michael's on Wednesday in their Notheast-10 Conference home opener.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 3, St. Michael's 1
Records: Merrimack (4-2, 1-1 NE-10) | St. Michael's (3-3, 0-2 NE-10)
Location: Martone-Mejail Field | North Andover, Mass.
How It Happened
The Warriors' first goal came in the 20th minute from freshman Mary McNeil (Canton, Mass.), who is off to a roaring start to her career, scoring her fourth goal in six games. McNeil fired a shot from 10 yards out that snuck by St. Michael's keeper Abigail Bowie thanks to an excellent screen from junior Hannah Magerman (Franklin, Mass.) for the first score of the game.
After McNeil's goal, Hammond would take over and score both of her goals in an eight-minute span. Her first goal came in the 31st minute with the Warriors battling in front of the net. After bouncing and being swatted around, the ball would find the stick of senior Lindsay Dobecki (Scarborough, Maine) who then found an open Hammond across the crease for the score.
Hammond kept the offensive pressure going to start the second half, and would find the back of the net again just four minutes into the period. Like her first goal, Hammond would find open space in front of the net and was able to slip behind St. Michael's defenders. Junior Kaitlin McCauley (Newburyport, Mass.) sped past the Purple Knights' defense and delivered a hard pass across the crease where Hammond tipped it home.
The Warriors and senior goalkeeper Madison Davis (San Jose, Calif.) would shutout the St. Michael's offense for the first 65 minutes of the game. But with just five minutes remaining, Carolyn Avery would slide one by Davis for her third goal on the season. That lone goal would be all St. Michael's would get, and would not be enough.
Inside The Numbers
- The Warriors continue to dominate games on the offensive side of the ball, as they outshot the Purple Knights 20-7 and doubled them in penalty corners, 10-5
- This is Hammond's second career multi-goal game in just her second season. Her first came last year in the team's home opener and her first game at Martone-Mejail Field in a 3-0 win over Franklin Pierce
- McNeil's fourth goal has her tied for second in the NE-10 in goals with Taylor Simpson (York, Maine) and five others.
- McCauley's assist is her first point of the season. She finished last year with four assists.
Up Next
The Warriors travel to Rindge, New Hampshire on Friday for a 3:00pm tilt with the #10 Franklin Pierce Ravens.
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