BUFFALO, N.Y. — Powered by goals from graduate student Jessica Evans (Canastota, N.Y./Canastota), sophomores Madison Brefka (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero North Syracuse) and Charlotte Sabert (Mohegan Lake, N.Y./Lakeland) and junior Madison Preston (Brookfield, Conn./Brookfield), the Mercy University Field Hockey Team earned a 4-1 win at D'Youville University on Sunday afternoon at Dobson Field.
The Mavericks (1-1) pick up their first win of the season and defeat the Saints (0-2) for the second straight year.
Mercy took control early, scoring once in each of the first two quarters before sealing the win with two goals in the final quarter. Despite D'Youville's late goal in the fourth quarter, Mercy's defense held firm, allowing only one shot on goal throughout the game. Mercy's offensive pressure was reflected in their 17 shots, with 12 on target, compared to D'Youville's 10 shots.
Mercy took an early lead in the first quarter with Evans scoring her first goal of the season at 10:56, putting the visitors ahead 1-0. Mercy continued to apply pressure, evidenced by shots from freshman Gwendolyn Smith (Sound Beach, N.Y./Miller Place) at 2:35 and Sabert at 9:33, both saved by D'Youville's goalkeeper Sarah Reifsnyder. The quarter concluded with Mercy maintaining their 1-0 advantage, while senior Rebecca McClure (Canastota, N.Y./Pace University) effectively protected the goal for the visitors.
The second quarter began with Mercy's offensive pressure, as Sabert took an early shot that went wide at 16:33. Capitalizing on a penalty corner at 16:34, Brefka scored her first goal of the season at 17:58, giving Mercy a 2-0 lead. Mercy maintained their edge, with Smith and Sabert taking additional shots late in the quarter, including a defensive save by Sydney Bolesta right before the quarter concluded.
The third quarter began with a defensive focus, as sophomore Jaime Stella (Hawley, Pa./Wallenpaupack) attempted a shot at 33:24, but it went wide. Sabert later tested the D'Youville goalkeeper Reifsnyder with a shot at 35:30, but it was saved, maintaining the scoreless quarter. Mercy's persistence in attack was highlighted by a penalty corner led by senior Samantha Trickel (Ottsville, Pa./Palisades) at 44:12, though Reifsnyder again denied Sabert's effort at 44:22, ending the quarter with the score unchanged at 2-0 in favor of Mercy.
Sabert broke the stalemate at 51:17 with her first goal of the season, quickly followed by Preston's penalty stroke goal at 53:49, extending their lead to 4-0. D'Youville responded with a late goal by Madisyn Grawl at 58:24, but Mercy maintained control to secure a confident 4-1 victory.
Mercy held a 17-10 edge in shots and a 12-1 edge in shots on goal. D'Youville held a 10-4 edge in penalty corners.
The next challenge for Mercy takes them on the road to Millersville, Pa., where they will face Millersville University on Thursday, September 11, at 6 p.m.
