| Date |
Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018 (3 p.m.) |
| Matchup |
Merrimack (1-0, 0-0 NE10)
#12 Mercy (16-4, 6-2 ECC) (2017) |
| Venue |
Mercy Field
Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. |
| Multimedia |
Live Stats // Watch |
| Social Media |
@MerrimackWLAX // Instagram |
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Merrimack College women's lacrosse team returns to action with the second of four straight road games to start the season, as the Warriors meet No. 12 Mercy on Wednesday afternoon in Dobbs Ferry, New York.
Inside the Series:
- Merrimack and Mercy are meeting for the fourth time in the last 11 seasons and for the third straight season overall.
- Merrimack is winless in those four meetings against Mercy, having dropped double-digit decisions in each of the last two seasons, including a 15-4 loss against the Mavericks at home last March.
- The closest game was an 11-5 decision at Merrimack in 2014; the last time the Warriors visited Dobbs Ferry, Mercy won it by an 18-4 margin.
Last Time Out:
- Merrimack saw five players post multi-goal performances – including two five-goal outings – and three rookies all find the back of the net for the first time in a wire-to-wire victory over Roberts Wesleyan last Monday.
- Merrimack raced out to a three-goal lead, striking three times over the first 13 minutes to establish early momentum.
- After Roberts Wesleyan got on the board with 17:07 left in the first half to make it a two-goal game, Merrimack outscored the hosts by an 8-2 margin over the remainder of the half to take an 11-3 edge into the break.
- The Warriors yielded just two goals the rest of the way while outscoring the hosts 9-2 in the second half to cap off a complete an impressive season-opening victory.
Poll Watch:
- Merrimack's schedule features six opponents that are ranked in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) preseason national rankings.
- Among those ranked are Adelphi (#1), Le Moyne (4), New Haven (8), Mercy (12), Stonehill (17), and Pace (18).
'Mack Facts:
- Merrimack's 20 goals in its season opener were the most by the team in a season opener in program history.
- Merrimack returns its top scorer back from a year ago and six of its top eight scorers overall from 2017. Altogether, Merrimack brings back over 75 percent of its offensive contributions from last spring.
- Rookie Haley Bartlett holds the team lead in scoring after a six-point debut that featured five goals and an assist.
- The leading scorer in each of the last two years, junior Amber Feminella already has five points – all on goals – after a 42-point sophomore season. She recorded her 100th career point in the season opener, as well.
- Sophomore Olivia Colletti leads the team with six draw controls after one game, while Feminella's four ground balls are most on the squad, as well.
- Sophomore Tammy Nguyen made her first collegiate start last time out and stopped seven shots, recording a .583 save percentage while allowing only five goals.
Scouting Mercy:
- Mercy is coming off a 16-4 season that featured a trip to the ECC Tournament title game, as well as the program's first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
- Boasting an offense that averaged a tick under 15 goals per game, Mercy will return three of its four 70-point scorers from last year and five of its top-seven scorers overall, led by junior Hunder Isnardi (71g, 7a, 78pts) and seniors Grace Davison (57g, 13a, 70pts) and Emily Jehle (15g, 55a, 70pts).
- Defender Talia Stagnitta recorded a team-high 70 ground balls and 39 caused turnovers (ahead of Isnardi's 30) to highlight the back line, while rising senior Shianne Judson is the lone goalie on the roster with experience last year; she started two games and played in six while logging a 6.88 goals against average and .406 save percentage.
Inside the Matchup:
| Merrimack (1-0, 0-0 NE10) |
Category |
#12 Mercy (16-4, 6-2 ECC) (2017) |
2/12 at Roberts Wesleyan (W, 20-5)
-- |
Recent Games |
--
-- |
| 20.00 |
Scoring Offense |
14.85 |
| 5.00 |
Scoring Defense |
6.40 |
| 49.0 |
Shots/Game |
31.4 |
| 3-6 (50.0) |
Free Positions Made-Att. |
51-120 (.425) |
| 29 |
Ground Balls |
356 |
| 14 |
Draw Controls |
298 |
| 10 |
Turnovers |
292 |
| 4 |
Caused Turnovers |
198 |
| 17-17 (1.000) |
Clears |
257-306 (.840) |
Up Next
Merrimack will continue its four-game season-starting road trip with another non-conference matchup against the ECC's Saint Thomas Aquinas this Sunday (Feb. 25). First whistle from Sparkill, New York, is set for 11:30 a.m.
