NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Mercy University Field Hockey Team plays at Southern Connecticut State University on Wednesday, September 9th at 7 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Wednesday, September 9th 7 p.m.
Records: Mercy (0-1), Southern Connecticut State (0-2)
Location: New Haven, Conn.
Last Meeting vs. Southern Connecticut State
Mercy dropped a 1-0 decision to Southern Connecticut State on October 14, 2025.
Scouting the Mavericks
Mercy opened their 2026 season with a 7-0 loss to Pace on Thursday. The Mavericks were led by junior Kaylise McClure who had a game-high and career-high 29 saves. Sophomores Gianna Bevacqua and Gwendolyn Smith both had a defensive save and Smith and junior Charlotte Sabert both had a team-high two shots on goal. Mercy is 4-8 all-time against the Owls and look to defeat Southern Connecticut State for the first time since 2023.
Mercy is coming off a season in which they went 5-12 in their final season as members of the NE10. Head Coach Marissa Spinazzola and the Mavericks join the newly formed ECC this season. Mercy was picked first in the inaugural ECC Preseason Poll and junior Charlotte Sabert was named Preseason Co-Player of the Year.
Leading the returners for the Mavericks is Sabert who had 19 points on eight goals and three assists last season. Junior Madison Brefka returns after posting nine points on three goals and three assists and sophomore Gwendolyn Smith is back after recording a team-high four assists with one goal. Senior Alyssa Benvengo had three goals last season and and senior Kate Lynne Conklin is back after posting two assists and two defensive saves a year ago. Junior Eunice Santiago recorded a team-high four defensive saves last season and junior Adrianna Taynor also returns after starting all 17 games last season with one defensive save. Returning in goal is junior Kaylise McClure who won a team-high four games last season and had a team-high 142 saves with a 2.89 goals-against average and .802 save percentage. Also returning are juniors Jaime Stella and Lilliauna Tepper and sophomore Gianna Bevacqua.
Spinazzola also bring in a strong recruiting class, highlighted by six freshmen. Joining the Mavericks as freshmen this year are Sarah Abbas, Madison Nuttall, Keira DeWit, Addison Testa, Ellie Stoklosa, and Jerilyn Bow. The six freshmen will look to contribute immediately.
Conklin, Brefka and McClure will serve as team captains during the 2026 season.
Mercy looks to win their season opener for the first time since 2024. The Mavericks are 2-7 all-time against Pace with their last win coming in 2022.
Scouting the Owls
Southern Connecticut State is coming off a 9-0 loss at Kutztown on Sunday. The Owls went 9-10 last season, falling in the First Round of the NE10 Championship. Southern Connecticut State was picked seventh in the NE10 Preseason Poll. The Owls have been led by Kaiya Mercier who has a team-high three points on a goal and an assist. Isabella Sharp-Senior and Avery Vaccaro both have a goal and Keana Criscuolo and Lindsey Onofrio both have an assist. Rachel Miller is 0-1 in goal with nine saves, a .529 save percentage and 10.67 goals-against average. Lyndsay Troisi is 0-1 with 15 saves, a .682 save percentage and 5.60 goals-against average.
Next Game
Mercy hosts Saint Michael's on Sunday, September 13th at 11 a.m.
