Freshman Kacie Smith notched her second straight multi-point game. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes)

Warriors erase two goal deficit with four unanswered, led by two goals and an assist from McNeil 

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (September 17, 2015) – Merrimack College reeled off four unanswered goals to overcome an early two goal deficit and claim a 4-2 victory over Stonehill College, ranked ninth in this week's Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division II poll, in non-conference field hockey action at Martone-Mejail Field tonight.

Freshman Mary McNeil (Canton, Massachusetts/Canton) fueled the Merrimack comeback with two goals and an assist. Junior Nicole Bradley (Essex, Massachusetts/Manchester Essex) dished out two assists, while senior Sydney Bowker (Schenectady, New York/Niskayuna) and sophomore Rylie Hammond (Phillipston, Massachusetts/Narragansett Regional) each netted goals for the Warriors.

Senior Madison Davis (San Jose, California/Branham) made five saves to keep Merrimack alive. The Warriors posted a 27-12 advantage in shots and a 20-3 spread for penalty corners.

Freshman Kacie Smith (Norwood, Massachusetts/Norwood) had a hand in both Stonehill goals with a goal and assist. Senior Lauren Giordano (Watertown, Massachusetts/Watertown) added a goal, while senior All-American Erika Kelly (Watertown, Massachusetts/Watertown) chipped in with an assist. Freshman Sara Freedman (Hopkinton, Massachusetts/Hopkinton) finished with a season-high 11 saves over the first 51:08, before yielding to senior Dana Dhami (Glastonbury, Connecticut/Glastonbury) for the final 19 minutes.

Smith got Stonehill going when she scored her fourth goal of the season off a pass from Kelly 13:30 into the game. Smith set up Giordano's third goal of the year less than seven minutes later to stake the Skyhawks out to a two goal lead early on. McNeil pulled a goal back just three seconds before halftime, off a feed from Bradley.

Bowker equalized the contest 2:03 into the second half off a pass from sophomore Taylor Simpson (York, Maine/York). Hammond gave Merrimack the lead 8:36 into the second half off a pass from McNeil and then McNeil provided an insurance goal, assisted by Bradley, at 53:52.

Stonehill (1-3, 0-0 NE-10) returns to action on Saturday when it opens its Northeast-10 Conference schedule at Saint Michael's College at 11 a.m. The Skyhawks return home on Wednesday, September 23, to host Adelphi University for an NE-10 matchup at 7 p.m. Merrimack (3-1, 0-0 NE-10) visits No. 5 LIU Post on Saturday at 11 a.m.

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