#5 Field Hockey Outlasts Bentley, 3-2; McNeil Surpasses 100 Career Points with Two-Goal Effort

Links: Box Score

WALTHAM, Mass.  – Senior midfielder Mary McNeil scored two goals on Saturday afternoon including what proved to be the game-winner less than eight minutes into the second half, leading the fifth-ranked Merrimack College field hockey program to a 3-2 Northeast-10 Conference victory at Bentley University. McNeil's first goal of the day brought the All-American's career point total to 101, becoming the sixth player in school history to reach the century mark.

The Basics
Score: #5 Merrimack 3, Bentley 2
Records: #5 Merrimack (7-1, 3-0 NE10) | Bentley (6-4, 2-3 NE10)
Location: Bentley Turf Field | Waltham, Mass.

Scoring Summary

• MC (1-0) – Continuing a trend that has defined the Warriors' success this season, Merrimack's quick-start offense got the Warriors ahead early. Twenty-two seconds into the game, McNeil scored to give the visitors a 1-0 advantage over the Falcons
• MC (2-0) – Less than three minutes later, the Warriors doubled their advantage. Junior Jessica Palmer controlled possession in the offensive zone, and fed a cross-zone fed that was potted by freshman Juliane Ohmen to make it a 2-0 contest before three minutes even came off the clock
• MC (3-0) – The Warriors' final goal of the day was also creating by their leading scorer. McNeil found room in the middle of the attacking zone, and scored from six yards out to provide an insurance marker
• BEN (3-0) – Bentley scored its first goal of the day just as the clock ticked under 20 minutes remaining. The Falcons' tally was set up off a penalty corner, with junior Sam Pavano converting
• BEN (3-1) – Things tightened up at the 62:45 mark when the Falcons scored off another corner. Sophomore back Sam Simione drove home a shot created by the set play, pulling the Falcons with one. The Warriors took a timeout after the goal, however, and held the Falcons without a shot for the remainder of the game to come away with the win

Top Performers

• McNeil's two strikes marked her fourth multi-goal game of the season, and second in as many contests. She became the first Warrior this season with 10 goal goals, and reached double figures in goals for the first time since her freshman year
• Ohmen scored her second goal in as many games, moving into a tie with classmate Isabelle Duseau for the most goals on the team among freshmen          
• Palmer's assist marked her second of the year and second over her last three games
• Junior goalkeeper Katharina Ohmen registered one save to pick up her seventh win of the fall

Notes and Notables

• The Warriors extended their winning streak to six games, the longest for the school since at eight-game run in 2015. The 2015 season saw Merrimack reach the national championship game for the first time in program history
• RECORD WATCH – McNeil joined April Daugherty '13 (159), Candace Waldie '14 (119), Rylie*Hammond '18 (116), Taylor*Simpson '18 (115) and Jen Otis '13 (113) in the 100-point club after Saturday's performance
• The Canton, Mass. native joined Daugherty earlier this season as the only Warriors ever with both 30 career goals and 30 career assists. McNeil lies just three helpers away from breaking Daugherty's program record for career helpers (37)
• With No. 1 Stonehill losing on Saturday, the Warriors (3-0) and No. 9 Pace (5-0) are the lone undefeated teams remaining in the NE10

Up Next
Merrimack will play at home for the first time in over two weeks on Tuesday evening, when the Warriors welcome Southern New Hampshire to Merrimack Stadium for a 7 p.m. contest.