Field Hockey Tripped Up by Bentley, 2-1

Links: Box Score | Highlights

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.  – The Merrimack College field hockey team christened a new era for the program on Tuesday afternoon, playing its first game on the turf at Merrimack Stadium. In the contest that followed, the Warriors took on the Bentley University Falcons in Northeast-10 Conference action, with the visitors scoring twice over the first 20 minutes to build an early lead. The Navy and Gold scored once in the second stanza, but fell short of netting the tying goal in the 2-1 final. 

The Basics
Score: Bentley 2, Merrimack 1
Records: Merrimack (10-6, 6-5 NE10) | Bentley (5-11, 5-7 NE10)
Location: Merrimack Stadium | North Andover, Mass.  

NE10 Postseason Outlook:
The top-six finishers advance to the NE10 Championship, which begins with the opening round on Tuesday, Oct. 31. The semifinals and finals will be played on Friday, Nov. 3, and Sunday, Nov. 5, respectively will all contests occurring at the site of the higher remaining seed. Despite the loss, Merrimack still controls its own destiny and can clinch a postseason berth with a win this weekend against Adelphi.

1. Stonehill (10-0)
2. Saint Anselm (9-1) 
3. Pace (7-3) H2H Tiebreaker over LIU Post
4. LIU Post (7-3)
5. Franklin Pierce (7-4)
6. Merrimack (6-5)
7. Assumption (5-5)
8. Adelphi (5-5)
9. Bentley (5-7)
10. Saint Michael's (3-8)
11. SNHU (3-8)
12. AIC (1-9)
13. SCSU (0-10)

Rapid Recap

• Bentley's first goal came just three minutes into the game. The Falcons had a pass take a deflection towards the far post, where Rebecca Schroder was able to run onto the loose ball and score to make it a 1-0 game
• Seven minutes later, freshman Colleen Ellis (Westford, Mass.) had consecutive shots on net, with the second one cleared off the line by a Falcons defender to prevent the equalizer
• A penalty corner for the Falcons resulted in a goal in the 21^st minute, with Niki Neidhart netting a tally from right in front of the crease, doubling the visitors' advantage
• Immediately out of halftime, the Warriors cut into their deficit. Senior Taylor Simpson (York, Maine) delivered a pass up the left flank, where freshman Serena Rousseau (Plaistow, N.H.) powered a centering shot that took a deflection and caromed into the net
• Over the final 15 minutes, the Warrior outshot the Falcons by a 7-1 margin, but the visitors' backline proved to be stout as the Navy and Gold could not net the equalizer

Team Leaders (MC // BEN)

• Goals: Serena Rousseau (1) // Rebecca Schroder/Niki Neidhart (1)
• Assists: Taylor Simpson (1)  // None
• Points: Rousseau (2) // Schroder/Neidhart (2)
• Defensive Saves: Miranda Judd (1) // Caitlin Derrickson (1)
• Saves: Katharina Ohmen (5) // Tatiana Naclerio (5)

Notes and Notables

• Merrimack played in its annual breast cancer awareness contest, honoring the mothers of sophomore Colleen Slattery (Old Orchard Beach, Maine) and freshman Sarah Johnson (Stow, Mass.) – both of whom are breast cancer survivors – in a pregame ceremony
• With one game remaining, the Warriors still control their own destiny for a berth in next week's NE10 Championship. A victory this weekend against Adelphi will ensure the Warriors will advance as the sixth seed
• With her goal in the second half, Rousseau has now tied Ellis for the most goals among Merrimack's rookies. She has three over her last five games
• Sophomore back Miranda Judd (Lebanon, N.H.) picked up a crucial defensive save late in the first half to prevent a third Falcons goal

Up Next
The Warriors will celebrate Senior Day on Sunday morning when the Warriors host Adelphi University at 11 a.m. from Merrimack Stadium.