DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Sept. 15, 2021) – The Mercy College field hockey team plays at St. Thomas Aquinas on Thursday, September 16th at 4 p.m. before playing at No. 8 Stonehill on Saturday, September 18th at 1 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Thursday, September 16th 4 p.m.
Records: Mercy (1-1), St. Thomas Aquinas (0-4)
Location: Sparkill, N.Y.
Date/Time: Saturday, September 18th 1 p.m.
Records: Mercy (1-1), No. 8 Stonehill (3-1)
Location: Easton, Mass.
Last Meeting vs. St. Thomas Aquinas
STAC earned a 3-1 win over Mercy on October 19, 2019.
Last Meeting vs. Stonehill
Stonehill earned a 3-0 win over Mercy on November 1, 2019.
Scouting the Mavericks
Mercy is coming off a 3-0 loss to Bentley in their home opener on Saturday. The Mavericks were led by senior Lauren Viscione who had a game-high eight saves. The Mavericks opened their 2021 season with a 1-0 win over Molloy on September 5th. Junior Lily Sherry scored the game-winning goal in the 15th minute, off an assist from sophomore Rieley Fitzgerald, to give Mercy their first season-opening win in program history. Senior Cydney Wolff made one save to post her first shutout in her first collegiate start. Mercy won their season opener for the first time in program history. The Mavericks are looking to qualify for the NE10 Tournament for the first time in just their second year as members of the conference. Mercy won three NE10 games in their inaugural season as members in 2019 and will look to increase that number in 2021. The Mavericks have been picked 14th in the NE10 Preseason Coaches' Poll but look to prove the coaches wrong. First-year Head Coach Marissa Spinazzola returns junior Alyssa Sacco who was named to the NE10 All-Rookie Team in 2019 after leading the team with three goals and three assists for nine points. Sherry also returns after appearing in 16 games in 2019, recording the game-winning goal against Pace. Also coming back is junior Katie Kreider who scored two goals in 2019 and graduate student Nicole Cotton and senior Savanna James also return after scoring goals in 2019. Senior Briannagh Smith returns after starting in 11 games in 2019 with one assist. Viscione and Wolff are back in goal for the Mavericks. Viscione made 154 saves in 2019 with two shutouts and a .782 save percentage in 16 starts. Also returning from the 2019 team are juniors Christy Falisi and Taylor Durkin. Spinazzola will also rely upon sophomores Kate Ringstad, Kelly Rosenfeld, Rory McComb, Ally Schreck, Flynn Kirk, Rachel Palladino, Kyra Reyes, Fitzgerald and Victoria Devlin and freshmen Kasey Volz, Jessica Evans and Alexandra Giordano.
Scouting the Spartans
St. Thomas Aquinas has opened their 2021 season with four straight losses after going 10-10 in 2019, qualifying for the NE10 Tournament. The Spartans have been shutout in all four of their games this season and are coming off a 1-0 loss to Stonehill on Saturday. STAC was picked 10th in the NE10 Preseason Coaches' Poll and return Lauren Cooper who had four goals in 2019. Senior Jessie Hohenstein is 0-4 in goal with 46 saves and a .754 save percentage.
Scouting the Skyhawks
Stonehill is ranked No. 8 nationally in the latest NFHCA Poll and is coming off a 3-2 win over No. 3 Saint Anselm on Tuesday. The Skyhawks were picked fourth in the NE10 Coaches' Poll after going 11-6 in 2019. All six of Stonehill's losses in 2019 were against nationally ranked teams and their lone loss this season is to nationally-ranked West Chester. Stonehill has been led by Raegan Hickey who has a team-high six points on two goals and two assists. Emily Ledoux has two goals and senior Abigail Campbell is 3-1 in goal with two shutouts, 27 saves and a .844 save percentage.
Next Game
Mercy resumes action on Monday, September 20th when they host Millersville at 4 p.m.
