DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Sept. 23, 2021) – The Mercy College field hockey team plays at No. 9 American International on Friday, September 24th at 7 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Friday, September 24th 7 p.m.
Records: Mercy (1-5, 0-3 NE10), No. 9 American International (5-3, 3-2 NE10)
Location: Springfield, Mass.
Last Meeting vs. AIC
AIC earned a 3-1 win over the Mavericks on October 2, 2019.
Scouting the Mavericks
Mercy is coming off a hard-fought 3-2 loss to Southern Connecticut State on Wednesday. The Mavericks were led by graduate student Nicole Cotton and junior Katie Kreider who both scored and freshman Kasey Volz had an assist. Senior Lauren Viscione made six saves in the loss. Mercy has dropped five straight games since opening the season with a 1-0 win over Molloy. The Mavericks played No. 6 Millersville on Monday and fell 6-1 with Viscione making a career-high 20 saves. Mercy will be playing a ranked opponent for the third time in four games. The Mavericks look to pick up their first win over a ranked opponent since defeating No. 10 Limestone on September 4, 2016. Kreider leads the team in goals with two and Volz has a goal and an assist. Cotton, sophomore Rachel Palladino and junior Lily Sherry also have goals. Sophomores Rieley Fitzgerald and Kelly Rosenfeld and junior Alyssa Sacco each have an assist on the year. Viscione is currently 0-5 in goal with 45 saves and a .682 save percentage in five starts. 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 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 Kreider who scored two goals in 2019, 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 senior Cydney 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, Rosenfeld, Rory McComb, Ally Schreck, Kirk, Palladino, Kyra Reyes, Fitzgerald and Victoria Devlin and Volz, Jessica Evans and Alexandra Giordano.
Scouting the Yellow Jackets
AIC is currently ranked No. 9 nationally in the NFHCA Coaches' Poll and is 5-3 overall on the season and 3-2 in NE10 play. The Yellow Jackets are coming off a 2-0 loss at New Haven on Wednesday. AIC earned a 2-1 win over Southern Connecticut State on September 18th. The Mavericks fell to Southern Connecticut State on Wednesday, 3-2. AIC was picked 12th in the NE10 Coaches' Poll after going 10-8 in 2019. The Yellow Jackets are led by sophomore Na'Bree Wallace who has a team-high nine points on a team-high four goals with one assist. Junior Shannon Cormier has three goals and two assists and junior Nicole Mercadante has two goals and two assists. Junior Jessica Stone leads AIC in goal with a 5-3 record, 51 saves and a .797 save percentage in eight starts.
Next Game
Mercy resumes action on Tuesday, September 28th when they play at Pace at 4 p.m.
