Field Hockey Travels to #5 Stonehill for First Road Game of 2016 Wednesday (7 p.m.)

9/14/2016 12:00:00 AM

Links: Live Stats | Video | Follow @MerrimackFH

EASTON, Mass. – The Merrimack College field hockey team will play its first road game of 2016 when they travel to Stonehill on Wednesday night to play the No. 5 Skyhawks in what will be a rematch of the 2015 NCAA Semifinals. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.

The Basics
Date/Time: Sept. 14 | 7:00 p.m.
Records: Merrimack (0-2) | #5 Stonehill (2-1)
Location: W.B. Mason Stadium | Easton, Mass.

Last Time Out:

• The Warriors were upset by Bentley last Wednesday at Martone-Mejail Field by a score of 2-1 in their second game of 2016.
• Merrimack fell behind a goal in the first half, but would tie the game up 13 minutes into the second thanks to the first goal of the season from reigning Northeast-10 Conference Rookie of the Year and sophomore Mary McNeil (Canton, Mass.). That tie would last just five minutes as Bentley would soon net the game-winner.
• Despite losing, Merrimack dominated the game offensively, outshooting Bentley 27-6, including 17 shots on goal.

Last Season vs. Stonehill:

• The Warriors and Skyhawks are no strangers to each other as the teams met three times in 2015, with Merrimack taking the 3-0 season sweep from Stonehill.
• Their first matchup came early in the season with Stonehill ranked ninth and Merrimack unranked. The Warriors would post a 4-2 upset, thanks in large part to a five-point game from McNeil.
• The Navy and Gold would put up a four goals again in their second bout for a 4-3 win in a high scoring contest with the Skyhawks, with four different Warriors netting goals.
• The final matchup came in the NCAA Semifinals, and unlike the previous two games, would be very low scoring. Senior Nicole Bradley (Essex, Mass.) scored the lone goal of the game at the 50^th minute to give Merrimack the 1-0 win and send the program to its first-ever National Championship.

The Skyhawks:

• Stonehill enters Wednesday's matchup ranked fifth in the nation with a 2-1 record through three games. Like Merrimack, they opened the season with a loss to top-ranked East Stroudsburg, falling by a score of 2-1.
• The Skyhawks have been turning to sophomore Kacie Smith for the majority of their offense to start the season, as she has five of the Skyahwks seven goals this year.
• Another sophomore in Sara Freedman has played every game in goal for Stonehill so far this season, posting two shutout wins and a .900 save percentage.

Up Next
The Warriors return to North Andover Saturday when they host seventh-ranked LIU Post for their NE-10-opener at noon.

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