Ballin Scores and Amell Makes 13 Saves as Field Hockey Concludes Season at American International
Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Oct. 31, 2015) – Despite a goal from junior Jackie Ballin (Cupertino, Calif./Cupertino) and 13 saves from freshman Julia Amell (Greene, N.Y./Greene), the Mercy College field hockey team ended its 2015 season with a 2-1 loss to American International College on Saturday afternoon at Abdow Field.
The Mavericks (6-10) conclude the season with the most wins in program history and finish with a five-win increase from a year ago, while the Yellow Jackets (4-14) snap a six-game losing streak to close out their season.
Ballin netted her team-leading and career-high seventh goal of the season and ends the year with a school record 17 points. The Mavericks also received shots on goal from junior Vanessa Soler (Port Monmouth, N.J./Middletown North) and freshman Alicia Williams (Lake Grove, N.Y./Sachem North).
American International received two goals from Taylor Ruscillo and goalkeeper Erin Maroney made three saves to earn the win.
The Yellow Jackets, celebrating Senior Night, came out and dominated the first half maintaining a 15-0 edge in shots in the stanza. However, American International could only find the net once as Amell made five stops. The Yellow Jackets picked up their lone goal of the half in the 30th minute and threatened for more but a pair of Amell saves kept it at 1-0 heading to the intermission.
The second half saw American International come out firing again, forcing Amell to make four saves in the first seven minutes. Ruscillo broke through again in the 44th minute off a pass from Erica McLean to make it 2-0 in favor of the home team.
The Mavericks responded with three straight shots on goal but Maroney stopped all three to keep the Yellow Jackets up 2-0.
Ballin ended the scoreless streak for Mercy in the 53rd minute, but the Mavericks could not find the game-tying goal and American International emerged victorious.
The Yellow Jackets ended the night with a 28-8 advantage in shots and 13-5 edge in penalty corners.
