Links: Box Score
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass – The Merrimack College women's soccer team took their second straight Northeast-10 Conference game into overtime Wednesday night, drawing level with Bentley 1-1.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 1, Bentley, 1 | Final
Records: Merrimack (2-1-1) | Bentley (2-0-2)
Location: Martone-Mejail Field | North Andover, Mass.
How It Happened
- Merrimack was out shot in the first half, 6-4; three shots were thrown on net for both teams.
- The Warriors had multiple opportunities to score in the first half, but the Bentley back line held their form for three crucial offside calls before the halftime whistle.
- The second half had great back-and-forth action, but it was the Warriors who struck first. A ball crossed low by freshman Erin Tyldesley was slotted perfectly to fellow freshman Meghan Blanchette drilled it home for the 1-0 lead.
- With just under 20 minutes left in the second half, Bentley leveled the score. A corner into the box was headed down by sophomore Megan Doubleday and onto the foot of Amanda Andriano, who tapped it in for the goal.
- Merrimack nearly stole the lead back with under 10 minutes left in the game. A ball from across midfield by senior Emily Maier found its way inside the six, and as Tyldesley collided with Bentley keeper Kat Hassapis, a last-second shot went just wide of the left post.
- Merrimack had a set-piece opportunity in the final 20 seconds from 35 yards out, but after not converting, the teams went to overtime.
- Nothing came through the first overtime, despite multiple shots from both teams.
- To start the second overtime, Blanchette blasted a shot from 20 yards out. A beautiful save by Hassipis wasn't cleaned up, and the follow-up shot by freshman Rebecca Harty just missed the top of the crossbar.
- With just under three minutes, a rebound shot from Maier outside 30 yards was just over the crossbar.
- Late-night heroics by Hassipis on the line finalized the game in a tie. As a ball skipped into the six, she made a great diving save in the final seconds.
Inside The Numbers
- Merrimack's Blanchette scored her first career goal; she came into 2018 as a back.
- There are now 10 goal scorers for the Warriors through their first four games of the season.
- Tuesday's game was the first since 2015 where the Warriors scored on the Falcons.
- Keeper records: Junior Erin Fulton (T, 2-1-1) // Kat Hassipis (T, 2-0-2)
- Shots (SOG): MER – 22 (8) // BEN 17 (9)
- Corners: MER – 3 // BEN – 4
Up Next
The Warriors will take their first road trip of the season Saturday, taking on Caldwell University. Kick-off is slated for noon.
