Savi's Game-Winner Leads Women's Soccer Over St. Michael's 2-1 in NE-10 Opener
Links: Box Score | Jenna Savi Interview
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Merrimack College women's soccer team opened up Northeast-10 Conference play with a win on Saturday afternoon, beating St. Michael's 2-1 to remain undefeated on the season.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 2, St. Michael's 1
Records: Merrimack (3-0-1, 1-0 NE-10) | St. Michael's (1-2-1, 0-1 NE-10)
Location: Martone-Mejail Field | North Andover, Mass.
What They Said
Head coach Gabe Mejail¸"We played really great in the first half, we just weren't able to finish on the many opportunities we had. When we came out in the second half we were a little less competitive, which we saw on their goal. But we put our second group in and they had a lot of fight, which is great to see."
How It Happened
The Warriors did just about everything they could do offensively in the first half except score a goal. Merrimack fired off 19 shots in the first half alone, but outstanding goaltending from St. Michael's senior goalkeeper Kaylee Sullivan kept all of them from finding the net.
In the 21st minute of the game, sophomore Emily Maier (Mesa, Ariz.) ripped a shot from 30 yards to the right of St. Michael's goal the flew right over the keepers reach. The ball would soar all the way to the opposite side of the net and hit the inside of the post, and Maier would just barely miss out on her first score of the season.
The Warriors would keep pressing the issue offensively to start the second half, getting off three early shots, but St. Michael's would begin to match their opportunities. In the 66th minute, a scramble for possession on Merrimack's end of the field would lead to the ball shooting out towards goalkeeper Molly Meehan (Fairfield, Conn.). A foot race between Meehan and St. Michael's senior Meagan Brady would be won by Brady as she was just able to loft the ball over Meehan and into the net.
Just 20 seconds later, the Warriors were responding with an attack of their own. Sophomore Sarah Boucher (Northbridge, Mass.) battled past multiple defenders and shot one towards the net. A St.Michaels defender attempted to make a play on the ball but ended up kicking it over her keeper and into the net, putting Merrimack on the board.
In the 80th minute of the game, the ball again was down in St. Michael's end of the field. Junior Megan Gada (Bozrah, Conn.) made a nice defensive play to regain possession. She immediately found senior Jenna Savi (Dedham, Mass.) who fired a beautiful hooking shot from 35 yards out that found the top corner.
Inside The Numbers
- The Warriors outshot the Purple Knights 27-5 in the game, including a 19-2 margin in the first half
- Savi's second half goal put her at 50 career points as a Warrior
- The Warriors would again split goalkeeping duties right down the middle, as Meehan and Meghan Gulbrandsen (Haverhill, Mass.) would each play a half
Up Next
The Warriors finish their home stand and continue NE-10 play on Wednesday at 6 p.m at MArtone-Mejail Field.
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