Soler Scores as Field Hockey Hosts ECAC Foe Newberry
Box Score DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Oct. 2, 2016) – Despite a goal from senior Vanessa Soler (Port Monmouth, N.J./Middletown North) and eight saves from sophomore Cheradyn Pettit (Colorado Springs, Colo./Lewis Palmer), the Mercy College field hockey team dropped a 2-1 decision to ECAC foe Newberry College on Sunday afternoon at Mercy Field.
The Mavericks (2-7, 1-3 ECAC) have now dropped two games in a row, while the Wolves (3-5, 1-3 ECAC) have won two games in a row.
Soler scored her first goal of the season, while sophomore Kayly Bryan (Rocky Point, N.Y./Rocky Point) added an assist. Senior Jackie Ballin (Cupertino, Calif./Cupertino) recorded a shot on goal and Pettit made eight stops in her first collegiate start.
Newberry was led by Kristyna Oyola who had a goal and an assist, while Caitlyn Warren added a goal of her own. Goalkeeper Dakota Elzy made one save to earn the win.
The Wolves wasted little time in getting on the board as Warren scored following a penalty corner by Oyola to give the guests a 1-0 lead in the 2nd minute of action.
The Mavericks had an answer as Soler found the back of the cage following a pass from Bryan off a Ballin penalty corner to tie the game up at 1-1 in the 19th minute.
Newberry responded with a pair of shots on goal but Pettit kept the ball out of the cage to keep the score at 1-1. The Wolves had their next best opportunity to score in the 24th minute when Courtlyn Warren drew a penalty stroke, but the shot went wide and the score would remain tied heading into halftime.
The Wolves ended the first half with a 9-4 edge in shots, while the Mavericks held a 4-2 advantage in penalty corners.
The second half saw Pettit make three more saves before Newberry found the game-winning goal in the 61st minute when Oyola scored off a pass from Courtlyn Warren following a penalty corner earlier in the sequence to make it 2-1.
Mercy was unable to find the equalizer and Newberry emerged with their first ECAC win of the year.
The Wolves ended the contest with a 15-8 edge in shots, while the Mavericks maintained an 8-7 advantage in penalty corners.
Head Coach Deirdre O'Neill and the Mavericks look to get back in the win column when they play Molloy College on the road on Tuesday, October 4th at 7 p.m.
