DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Sept. 30, 2023) – Despite goals from senior Rachel Palladino (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) and junior Kasey Volz (Lake Grove, N.Y./Sachem North), the Mercy University field hockey team dropped a 5-2 decision to NE10 foe Southern New Hampshire University on Saturday afternoon at Mercy Field.
The Mavericks (3-6, 2-3 NE10) have dropped four games in a row, while the Penmen (4-5, 3-2 NE10) move over .500 in NE10 play.
Palladino netted her team-leading seventh goal of the season and Volz recorded her second goal of the season. Junior Alexandra Giordano (Manorville, N.Y./Eastport South Manor) made seven saves in the first half to take the loss. Sophomore Rebecca McClure (Canastota, N.Y./Pace University) stopped five shots in the second half.
Southern N.H. was led by Jade Hendriks who had a goal and an assist. Emma Peeters made nine saves to earn the win.
Giordano and Peeters both opened the game with a save in the first five minutes of action. Minke van de Poll gave the Penmen a 1-0 lead in the 7th minute of action. Mercy quickly answered with a goal in the 8th minute to tie the game at 1-1. Palladino fired home a rebound of a senior Kate Ringstad (Woodstock, Md./Mount de Sales Academy) shot to even the score. Giordano made three more saves before Anne Wiersma found the back of the cage to give Southern N.H. a 2-1 lead after the first quarter.
Carley Lovejoy made it 3-1 in the 24th minute. Palladino forced Peeters to make a save in the 25th minute and Giordano made two more stops to keep the score at 3-1 heading into halftime.
McClure made four saves in the third quarter before Hendriks scored in the 40th minute to make it 4-1. Volz made it 4-2 in the 43rd minute with a penalty stroke goal and the score remained 4-2 at the end of the third quarter.
Peeters stopped three more shots in the fourth quarter and Emma Thibodeau scored the Penmen's final goal after a corner with time expired to make it 5-2.
Southern N.H. held a 27-14 edge in shots and a 17-11 edge in shots on goal. The Penmen also held a 14-9 edge in penalty corners.
Head Coach Marissa Spinazzola and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday, October 4th when they play at Pace at 4 p.m.
