MANCHESTER, N.H. (Oct. 31, 2023) - Despite a goal from junior Kasey Volz (Lake Grove, N.Y./Sachem North), off an assist from senior Rieley Fitzgerald (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston), and a game-high eight saves from junior Alexandra Giordano (Manorville, N.Y./Eastport South Manor), the No. 7 seeded Mercy University field hockey team dropped a 4-1 decision to No. 2 seeded Saint Anselm College in their first-ever NE10 Quarterfinal appearance on Tuesday afternoon at Grappone Stadium.

The Mavericks (8-10) see their season end in the NE10 Quarterfinals for the first time in program history and their eight wins this season match a school record set last season. The Hawks (16-3) will face the winner of Bentley/Adelphi in a Semifinal on Friday. 

Volz netted her fifth goal of the season and Fitzgerald added her fifth assist of the season. Giordano made eight saves to take the loss. 

Saint Anselm was led by Millie Forster who had a goal and an assist. Mackenzie McConnell made one save to earn the win. 

The Hawks jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 5th minute of action when Grace Michael scored following a Saint Anselm penalty corner. Mercy responded with four straight corners in the next couple of minutes against the nationally-ranked Hawks but were unable to score. Amanda Lewandowski made it 2-0 in the 10th minute after a Forster shot was stopped by Giordano. Saint Anselm headed into the second quarter with a 2-0 lead. 

Mercy opened the second quarter with a pair of scoring opportunities in the 20th minute, but shots from sophomore Samantha Trickel (Ottsville, Pa./Palisades) and senior Ally Schreck (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) went just wide. Giordano made two saves in the quarter to keep the Mavericks down just 2-0 at halftime. 

Forster gave the Hawks a 3-0 lead in the 38th minute following a penalty corner. Giordano came up with two saves in the quarter, including one on a penalty stroke, to keep Mercy down just 3-0 at the end of the third quarter. 

The Mavericks got on the scoreboard in the 52nd minute when Volz scored after a pass from Fitzgerald, following a Mercy penalty corner, to make it 3-1. Saint Anselm quickly answered in the 53rd minute with a goal by Maggie Burchill to take a 4-1 lead. Giordano made two more saves to keep Saint Anselm from scoring again, but Mercy was unable to score again and Saint Anselm earned the 4-1 win. 

Saint Anselm held a 19-8 edge in shots and a 12-2 edge in shots on goal. Saint Anselm held a 16-8 edge in penalty corners.