NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Merrimack College women's lacrosse team's season ends as their loss today against Stonehill College eliminates them from NEC playoff contention.
 
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 13, Stonehill 14
Records: Merrimack (4-12, 4-6 NEC) | Stonehill (8-8, 7-3)
 
Rapid Recap
Merrimack needed a win today against Stonehill and a Wagner loss in order to sneak their way into the NEC playoffs as a #6 seed. The Warriors had to take care of business at home and got off to a hot start. Sophie Scearbo would get Merrimack on the board quickly in the first minute of play. Goalie Hayley Kowalczyk was lockdown in the 1^st quarter, allowing the offense to do their thing. The Warriors scored the first 4 goals of the match, not letting Stonehill score until 3 minutes left in the quarter. Natalie Calkins buried a pass from Scearbo moments later to give them a 5-1 lead after 15 minutes of play. The Skyhawks rallied back into the game as the 2^nd quarter was mostly theirs. Merrimack led 6-1 early in the quarter, but a 4-1 Stonehill run saw brought the game to within 2 at the half.
 
Merrimack came out ready for the 2^nd half, scoring the first 2 goals including one from freshman Lindsay Atkinson. Stonehill responded with a couple of their own, but that did not phase the Warriors. The last portion of the 3^rd quarter was all Merrimack. Sophie Scearbo added 2 more goals to her 7-point day as the Warriors led 12-7 with only one quarter left to play. The 4^th quarter would be Merrimack's worst nightmare as the Skyhawks slowly chipped away at the Warriors 5 goal lead. Before anyone knew it the game was tied with just under 5 minutes remaining. Stonehill had all the momentum and proceeded to use it, winning the next two draw controls, and capitalizing on them. Down 14-12, Merrimack desperately tried to get something in the back of the net, as Samantha Spieler scored off a free position shot with 8 seconds left. The Warriors won the ensuing draw control, but there was simply no time and Merrimack was unable to get a shot off as they fell to Stonehill 14-13.

Notes and Numbers

• Sophie Scearbo scored a game-high and season-high 7 points (5 goals, 2 assists)
• Kaitlin Roche led the team with 6 draw control wins