Smith became just the second field hockey student-athlete in Division II history to score 100 career goals. (PHOTO BY Matt campbell)

Smith becomes second 100-goal scorer in Division II history

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (October 31, 2018) – Merrimack College, ranked No. 3 in this week's Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division II poll, staked out a two goal lead early in the second half and made it stand in posting a 3-1 victory over No. 7 Stonehill College in Northeast-10 Conference field hockey action at Duane Stadium tonight.

Senior Mary McNeil led Merrimack with a goal and assist, while junior Jessica Palmer and sophomore Colleen Ellis each added a goal. Junior Katharina Ohmen preserved the win with six saves in the Warriors goal.

Senior All-American Kacie Smith, the reigning Longstreth/NFHCA Division II Player of the Year, scored the lone goal for Stonehill, becoming just the second student-athlete in Division II field hockey history to score 100 career goals. She is one of 26 all-time in all levels of NCAA Field Hockey to net 100 career markers, and her program and NE10 record total is second only to Bloomsburg University alum Jamie Vanartsdalen's Division II record 120 career goals from 2005-08.

Senior Sara Freedman finished with eight saves in the Stonehill cage.

Neither team was able to break through until under ten minutes remained in the opening half, shortly after Ohmen saved a Smith penalty stroke attempt. Palmer broke through with her ninth goal of the season when she knocked in a loose ball in front of the cage off a penalty corner with 7:08 remaining in the first half. McNeil doubled the Warriors lead

Freedman finished with eight saves in the Skyhawks goal. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes)

7:34 into the second half off a feed from senior Delaney Yule for her 14^th goal of the year.

Smith cut Stonehill's deficit in half with her 23^rd goal of the fall off a corner just four minutes later off a corner, giving her 100 career goals. Ellis restored Merrimack's two-goal cushion with 2:07 left in regulation, netting her sixth goal of the season, assisted by McNeil.

Stonehill (10-5, 6-4 NE10) returns to action on Saturday, when it visits Southern Connecticut State University for an NE10 matchup at 4 p.m. The Skyhawks return home on Saturday, November 10, to host Saint Michael's College for Senior Day at 1 p.m. LIU Post (10-4, 9-3 NE10) hosts Southern Connecticut State University on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

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