NEW HAVEN, Conn. (Nov. 1, 2024) – Despite goals from freshman Madison Brefka (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero North Syracuse), senior Jessica Evans (Canastota, N.Y./Canastota) and graduate student Kasey Volz (Lake Grove, N.Y./Sachem North), the Mercy University field hockey team ended their 2024 season with a hard-fought 4-3 loss at NE10 foe Southern Connecticut State University on Friday night at Jess Dow Field.

The Mavericks (6-11, 3-10 NE10) end their season losing 10 of their final 11 games with seven of those losses coming by one goal. The Owls (6-12, 4-9 NE10) defeat Mercy for the first time since 2021.

Mercy was led by Brefka who recorded her first career goal. Evans netted her third goal and Volz added her third goal of the season. Junior Samantha Trickel (Ottsville, Pa./Palisades) recorded her second assist and sophomore Madison Preston (Brookfield, Conn./Brookfield) dished out her fourth assist of the year. Junior Reagan Lane (Rocky Point, N.Y./Rocky Point) had two defensive saves and ends the season with seven defensive saves. Senior Alexandra Giordano (Manorville, N.Y./Eastport South Manor) made four saves to take the loss in the final game of her career.

Southern Connecticut State was led by Keana Criscuolo who had two goals and an assist. Lyndsay Troisi made a game-high 11 saves to earn the win.

After two Lane defensive saves and a Giordano save, the Owls took a 1-0 lead in the 4th minute when Criscuolo fired home a Natalia Fiato rebound. The score remained 1-0 at the end of the first quarter with Mercy forcing Troisi to make two saves in the quarter.

Mercy tied the game at 1-1 in the 20th minute when Brefka scored her first career goal after taking a pass from Trickel on a penalty corner. Troisi made five saves in the quarter to keep the game tied at 1-1 at halftime.

Troisi made four more saves before Volz gave Mercy a 2-1 lead in the 41st minute following a penalty stroke. Giordano made a save to close the quarter, giving the Mavericks a 2-1 lead after three quarters.

The Owls tied the score at 2-2 following a Kate Salvador goal in the 50th minute. Evans gave Mercy the lead back at 3-2 following a Preston assist. Criscuolo tied the game again at 3-3 before Ruby Webb gave the hosts a 4-3 lead in the 56th minute following a penalty corner. A last second shot by Evans was blocked and the Owls held on for the 4-3 win.

Mercy held a 31-13 edge in shots and a 14-10 edge in shots on goal. Mercy held a 17-5 edge in penalty corners.