UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Powered by a game-high two goals from freshman Addison Testa (Danbury, Conn./Danbury) and a game-high 11 saves from junior Kaylise McClure (Lake Grove, N.Y./Sachem North), the Mercy University Field Hockey Team earned a share of the first-ever ECC Regular Season Championship with a 3-0 win at Molloy University on Saturday afternoon at Mitchel Field.
The Mavericks (9-7, 8-2 ECC) have won a program record seven games in a row and set a new program record with their ninth win of the season. Mercy defeats the Lions (3-11, 3-7 ECC) for the 13th straight time. The Mavericks have secured a share of the program's first-ever conference regular season championship. Mercy has secured the top seed in next week's ECC Field Hockey Championship due to holding a tiebreaker over Roberts Wesleyan. The Mavericks will host No. 4 seed D'Youville in a semifinal matchup on Wednesday, November 11th at 1 p.m. If Mercy wins Wednesday, they will host the winner of Roberts Wesleyan/Dominican in the final on Saturday, November 14th at 12 p.m.
McClure made two saves early in the first quarter before Testa scored her first goal of the game in the 7th minute, off an assist from junior Madison Brefka (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero North Syracuse), giving Mercy an early 1-0 lead. Less than two minutes later Testa scored again, following an assist from junior Lilliauna Tepper (Sayville, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford), making it 2-0 in the 9th minute. McClure closed the quarter with a save, giving Mercy a 2-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
McClure stopped five shots in the second quarter to keep Mercy ahead 2-0 at halftime.
McClure kept the Lions off the scoreboard in the third quarter, making three saves, giving Mercy a 2-0 lead heading to the fourth quarter.
Sophomore Gwendolyn Smith (Sound Beach, N.Y./Miller Place) gave Mercy a 3-0 lead in the 52nd minute and the Mavericks led the rest of the way to earn the 3-0 win.
Mercy was led by Testa who scored a career-high two goals and now has six goals and a team-high 17 points on the year. Smith scored her second goal of the season and Brefka dished out her second assist of the year. Tepper recorded her third assist, and McClure made a game-high 11 saves to earn her ninth win of the season and third shutout of the year.
Molloy was led by Kayla Monique Lipscomb who made seven saves to take the loss.
Shots were tied at 15-15 and Molloy held an 11-10 edge in shots on goal. Mercy held a 9-6 edge in penalty corners.
Head Coach Marissa Spinazzola and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday, November 11th when they host D'Youville in an ECC Championship Semifinal matchup at 1 p.m.
