DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Oct. 18, 2023) – Powered by a career-high three goals from senior Kate Ringstad (Woodstock, Md./Mount de Sales Academy), including the game-winning goal in overtime, and two goals from senior Rachel Palladino (Latham, N.Y./Shaker), the Mercy University field hockey team overcame a three-goal second half deficit to earn a 5-4 overtime win over NE10 foe St. Thomas Aquinas College on Wednesday afternoon at Mercy Field.
The Mavericks (6-8, 5-5 NE10) have won three games in a row and snap a four-game losing streak to the Spartans (3-12, 3-7 NE10).
Ringstad recorded a career-high three goals and now has seven goals on the year. Palladino now has a new single-season school record of 11 goals this season. She surpasses the previous mark of 10 set by assistant coach Alyssa Sacco last year. Senior Kelly Rosenfeld (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) dished out her team-leading sixth assist of the season and senior Rieley Fitzgerald (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston) added her third assist of the year. Senior Victoria Devlin (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) and sophomore Reagan Lane (Rocky Point, N.Y./Rocky Point) both recorded a defensive save. Junior Alexandra Giordano (Manorville, N.Y./Eastport South Manor) made a game-high-tying seven saves to earn the win.
St. Thomas Aquinas was led by Olivia Cerbo who had two goals and one assist. Carlijn De Groot made seven saves to take the loss.
Both Giordano and De Groot made one save in the first quarter to keep the game scoreless after one quarter of play.
The Spartans struck first in the 17th minute on a Madelyn Verstraten goal to make it 1-0. Cerbo later made it 2-0 in the 23rd minute following an assist from Nicola Van Vuuren. Ringstad quickly struck for the Mavericks first goal in the 23rd minute following a Fitzgerald corner to make it 2-1. Van Vuuren gave the Spartans a 3-1 lead in the 25th minute and De Groot made two saves in the final five minutes of the half to keep St. Thomas Aquinas up 3-1 at halftime.
Cerbo gave the Spartans a three-goal lead, 4-1, in the 34th minute and looked to have the game well in hand. However, the Mavericks continued to battle, and Ringstad made it 4-2 just under a minute later following a shot fired into the back of the cage in the 34th minute. Palladino got Mercy to within one, 4-3, in the 36th minute following a cross from Rosenfeld. Giordano made three saves to close out the quarter, keeping the Mavericks down just one, 4-3, after three quarters.
Mercy forced De Groot to make two early saves in the fourth quarter. The Mavericks finally found the equalizer in the 54th minute when Palladino fired home a Fitzgerald cross to make it 4-4. De Groot made two saves in the closing minutes to keep the game tied after regulation, sending the game into overtime.
Giordano made a save in the 65th minute to keep the game tied. The Spartans committed a foul in the 67th minute, drawing a Mercy penalty stroke. Ringstad connected on the penalty stroke, giving Mercy the 5-4 come-from-behind overtime victory.
Mercy held an 18-15 edge in shots and St. Thomas Aquinas held a 13-12 edge in shots on goal. Mercy held an 11-4 edge in penalty corners.
Head Coach Marissa Spinazzola and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, October 21st when they host Franklin Pierce at 11 a.m.
