SPARKILL, N.Y. – Powered by the game-winning goal from freshman Reagan Hunsberger (Waterloo, Ontario/Bluevale Collegiate Institute), off an assist from freshman Addison Testa (Danbury, Conn./Danbury), the Mercy University Field Hockey Team earned a 2-1 win at ECC foe St. Thomas Aquinas College on Wednesday afternoon at Spartan Field.
The Mavericks (8-7, 7-2 ECC) have won a program record six games in a row and sweep the season series with the Spartans (0-15, 0-9 ECC). Mercy matches the program record for wins in a season, matching the eight wins from 2022 and 2023.
STAC took a 1-0 lead in the 9th minute when Alyssa Liguori scored, off an assist from Catie Horn, giving the hosts an early lead. Junior Kaylise McClure (Lake Grove, N.Y./Sachem North) made a save to close out the quarter, keeping the score 1-0.
Mercy tied the game at 1-1 in the 18th minute when junior Charlotte Sabert (Mohegan Lake, N.Y./Lakeland) scored, following a junior Madison Brefka (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero North Syracuse) penalty corner. McClure made a save to close out the half, maintaining a 1-1 tie at halftime.
Testa forced STAC goalkeeper Evelyn McEwen to make two saves in the third quarter, but the score remained 1-1 going to the fourth quarter.
The Mavericks took a 2-1 lead in the 47th minute when Hunsberger scored, following an assist from Testa. Mercy held the Spartans without a shot for the remainder of the game, giving the Mavericks the 2-1 win.
Mercy was led by Hunsberger who scored her third goal of the season and first career game-winning goal. Sabert netted her team-high-tying seventh goal of the season and Testa dished out her team-leading fifth assist of the year. Brefka added her first assist of the year, and McClure made two saves to earn her eighth win of the year.
STAC was led by Liguori who scored and by McEwen who made a game-high 14 saves to take the loss.
Mercy held a 23-4 edge in shots, a 16-3 edge in shots on goal and a 14-3 edge in penalty corners.
Head Coach Marissa Spinazzola and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, November 7th when they play at Molloy at 12 p.m. in their regular season finale.
