April Daugherty (Lincoln, R.I.) put Merrimack on the board first nine minutes into the contest. Daugherty tipped in a shot for her fifth score of the season to give the home side a 1-0 advantage.
The Hawks tallied their lone goal of the game just moments later. Sara Sterling took a penalty corner and then waited by the left post for a potential rebound. The ball found its way to Sterling’s stick who fired it into the cage to even the score at 1-1.
With seven minutes remaining in the opening half, Katie Zubkus (Dover, N.H.) knocked in a loose ball for her second goal of the year. The ball bounced around a cluster of players before Zubkus could one-time it into the net to restore the Merrimack lead for good.
In the second period of play, the Warriors earned a penalty corner after nine minutes of action. Jessica Otis (Pittsford, N.Y.) passed the ball in to Sarah Dunbar (Hubbardston, Mass.) at the left side of the arc. Dunbar rifled a shot into the frame to add an insurance goal for Merrimack.
Less than five minutes later, Daugherty and Jamie Spano (Reading, Mass.) were in on a breakaway with Daugherty carrying the ball. The Hawks’ goaltender rushed out to defend Daugherty who dished the ball to Spano at the right post. Spano tapped it into the open cage for the Warriors’ fourth goal of the game and her team-leading sixth of the season.
The four scores marks a season-high in goals scored in one game. Prior to tonight’s victory, Merrimack had managed to tally three goals on three separate occasions.
The Warriors also had three other near-misses on goal in the match. Jen Otis (Penacook, N.H.) and Daugherty each hit the left post in the exact same spot. Merrimack also earned a penalty stroke in the game, but the attempt was sent wide of the net.
Kerri Bergquist (Mashpee, Mass.) made three saves in goal for the Warriors and picked up her seventh win of the year. Lindsay MacDonald turned aside eight shots for St. Anselm in the game.
Merrimack held an overwhelming advantage in shots, 25-10, including a 12-4 margin in shots on frame. The Warriors also earned nine penalty corners while the visitors were awarded three.
“It was great to get everyone into the game so that we could add some experience to our team,” said head coach Anne Rounce. “I am very proud of our seniors. It was nice to give them a huge win on Senior Night and I was glad that we gave them significant playing time as well.”
Merrimack returns to action on November 7 as it travels to Worcester, Mass., to take on Assumption in a non-conference match. The Warriors will close out the 2010 campaign with a non-conference home game against Adelphi November 12.
Before tonight’s contest, the Merrimack field hockey team recognized its three seniors: Kaitlyne Cullinane (Lunenburg, Mass.) and co-captains Ashley Nadeau (Canton, Mass.) and Jenna Barbato (Watertown, Mass.).
www.merrimackathletics.com
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