DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – Despite goals from sophomore Gwendolyn Smith (Sound Beach, N.Y./Miller Place) and junior Madison Brefka (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero North Syracuse) and nine saves from junior Kaylise McClure (Lake Grove, N.Y./Sachem North), the Mercy University Field Hockey Team dropped a hard-fought 3-2 decision to Saint Michael's College on Sunday afternoon at Mercy Field.
The Mavericks (0-3) fall to the Purple Knights (1-3) for the first time since 2021.
Saint Michael's took a 1-0 lead in the 5th minute after a Rebecca Wallace-West goal. Smith tied the game at 1-1 in the 8th minute after she took a Purple Knights turnover and fired the ball from the top of the circle into the cage. A Ruby Harrington goal in the 13th minute gave Saint Michael's a 2-1 lead and McClure closed the quarter with a save to keep the score 2-1 at the end of the first quarter.
McClure made a save early in the second quarter before the Mavericks tied the game at 2-2 in the 24th minute. Brefka deflected in a junior Charlotte Sabert (Mohegan Lake, N.Y./Lakeland) shot attempt to even the score. McClure closed the half with a save to send the teams into halftime tied at 2-2.
McClure stopped a shot early in the third quarter, but Mercy forced Saint Michael's goalkeeper Ronia Foecking to make six saves in the quarter and held a 7-1 edge in penalty corners. However, neither team was able to score and the teams headed into the final quarter tied at 2-2.
McClure came up with two saves to start the fourth quarter and junior Adrianna Taynor (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) added a defensive save before Melanie Snell scored in the 50th minute to give the Purple Knights a 3-2 lead. Mercy was unable to find the equalizer and Foecking came up with a save as time expired to give Saint Michael's the 3-2 win.
Mercy was led by Smith and Brefka who both scored their first goals of the season. Sabert added her first assist of the year, and Taynor posted her first defensive save of the year. McClure made nine saves to take the loss.
Saint Michael's was led by Harrington who had a goal and an assist. Foecking made a game-high 11 saves to earn the win.
Mercy held a 19-16 edge in shots, shots on goal were tied at 13-13 and Mercy held a 14-6 edge in penalty corners.
Head Coach Marissa Spinazzola and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday, September 16th when they host Adelphi at 1 p.m.
