FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Eight-seeded Assumption knocked off top-seeded Pace as part of Tuesday's quarterfinal action in the NE10 Field Hockey Championship. It was one of two upsets on the day, as No. 6 Stonehill rolled to a 7-1 victory over No. 3 LIU Post. In the other games, No. 2 Merrimack and No. 4 Saint Anselm held suit, earning the right to host Friday's semifinal matchups at 4 p.m.
#8 Assumption 1, #1 Pace 0 - Box Score
THE BASICS:
- Score: Assumption 1, Pace 0
- Records: Assumption (12-7, 7-6 NE10), Pace (17-2, 13-0 NE10)
- Location: Pleasantville, N.Y. (Finnerty Field)
- The Lead: After being evenly matched and both teams held scoreless in the first half, Assumption came out strong in the second an earned a penalty corner just 40 seconds in to play. The Hounds scored in the 44th minute on a fast break to take a 1-0 lead and held on for the upset win over top seeded Pace.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- After a scoreless second half where both teams earned three penalty corners, Assumption came out in the second half ready to play. The Hounds earned a penalty corner in the first 40 seconds of play to start their strong second half.
- In the 44th minute of play the Hounds had a fast break down the right side of the field. Deirdre Burchill (Braintree, Mass./Braintree) dodged a defender headed into the circle to then sent a cross pass to Courtney Sickel (Atkinson, N.H./Timberlane Regional) who collected the pass and shot it past the goalie to take a 1-0 lead.
- Assumption defended two Setters' corners to complete the 1-0 upset victory over top seeded Pace.
#2 Merrimack 3, #7 Bentley 1 - Box Score
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Three different members of the fifth-ranked Merrimack College field hockey team scored, including the game-winning tally midway through the second half from senior Delaney Yule, as the Warriors toppled visiting Bentley University, 3-1, in the Northeast-10 Conference Quarterfinals on Tuesday night at Duane Stadium.
The second-seeded Warriors bested the seventh-ranked Falcons via a 2-0 shutout in the second half to break a one-all halftime deadlock. Both of Merrimack's tallies in the final stanza came off penalty corners, with Yule's strike taking a deflection to find that back of the net just 16 minutes into the half. Freshman Juliane Ohmen netted an insurance marker seven minutes later, while her sister and junior goalkeeper Katharina Ohmen finished the night with a game-high five saves.
The victory combined with sixth-seeded Stonehill's upset of LIU Post (7-1) creates a semifinal showdown between the No. 9 Skyhawks and Warriors on Friday at Duane Stadium, with the semifinal set to start at 4 p.m. Eighth-seeded Assumption knocked of top-seeded Pace, which means if Merrimack wins Friday the Warriors will host the NE10 Championship game on Sunday afternoon (1 p.m.).
#6 Stonehill 7, #3 LIU Post 1 - Box Score
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (November 13, 2018) –Sixth-seeded Stonehill College, ranked No. 9 in this week's Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division II poll, scored seven unanswered goals in the second half to advance past third-seeded and No. 3-ranked LIU Post in quarterfinal round action of the 2018 Northeast 10 Conference Field Hockey Tournament at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium this afternoon.
Stonehill (13-6, 8-5 NE10) advances to Friday's semifinal round to face the winner of tonight's final quarterfinal between second-seeded and No. 5-ranked Merrimack College (15-3, 11-2 NE10) and seventh-seeded Bentley University (11-7, 7-6 NE10) being played in North Andover, Massachusetts. LIU Post (13-5, 10-3 NE10), ranked third in last week's NCAA Division II East Regional rankings, one spot ahead of Stonehill, must now await their NCAA Tournament fate when the Division II Selection Show airs next Monday, November 19, at 3 p.m.
Senior All-American Kacie Smith, the reigning Longstreth/NFHCA Division II Player of the Year, led the Stonehill surge with two goals and an assist for a five-point afternoon, while classmate Carly Andersen netted a pair. Junior All-American Michaela Antonellis delivered a goal and assist for the Skyhawks, while freshmen Emily Ledoux and Sophie Schreck chipped in with a goal apiece.
Senior Sara Freedman made seven of her nine saves in the first half to keep Stonehill in the game after the Skyhawks came up empty on some chances early. Stonehill, competing in its NE10 record matching 20th NE10 Tournament reaches the semifinals for the sixth-straight year.
#4 Saint Anselm 4, #5 SNHU 2 - Box Score
MANCHESTER, N.H. – The nationally-ranked Saint Anselm College field hockey team battled its cross-town rival Southern New Hampshire University on Tuesday night at Grappone Stadium. The Hawks became winners of eight-straight games following the squad's 4-2 victory over the Penmen.
Saint Anselm, ranked 10th in NCAA Division II by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association, moves to 14-5 overall on the season while the Penmen see their season come to a close with a 10-9 overall mark. The Hawks entered play as the fourth seed in the NE10 Championship while the Penmen earned the fifth seed.
The Hawks will host an NE10 Semifinals game this Friday, Nov. 16 at Grappone Stadium as top-seeded Pace was stunned by the eighth-seeded Greyhounds from Assumption College by a 1-0 score. By virtue of the higher seed, Saint Anselm will take on the Greyhounds with the right to compete in the NE10 Championship game slated for Sunday, Nov. 18.
Cassidy Huckins opened the scoring for Southern New Hampshire only 14:27 into regulation time, but sophomore Ericka Meissner (East Falmouth, Mass.) brought the game even only 28 seconds later with her third goal of the season, tipping home a lengthy pass from sophomore Kendall Clifford (South Easton, Mass.).
Junior Michelle Lemelin (Chelsea, Maine) propelled her team to a 2-1 lead just over 10 minutes later with her sixth goal of the season, halting a shot that was sent in junior Hannah Friend (North Easton, Mass.). Settling the ball down in front between her feet, a quick wrap-around shot by Lemelin found the back of the net.
Tuesday, November 13th
Quarterfinals – at Higher Seeds
Game 1: #8 Assumption 1, #1 Pace 0
Game 2: #2 Merrimack 3, #7 Bentley 1
Game 3: #6 Stonehill 7, #3 LIU Post 1
Game 4: #4 Saint Anselm 4, #5 SNHU 2
Friday, November 16th
Semifinals – at Higher Seeds
Game 5: #8 Assumption at #4 Saint Anselm (4 p.m.)
Game 6: #6 Stonehill at #2 Merrimack (4 p.m.)
Sunday, November 18th
Championship (to be held at highest remaining seed)
Game 7: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner
*Please note that the championship game time shall be 1:00 PM.
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 15 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.