Field Hockey Shuts Down Merrimack, 6-2
Box Score
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (Sept. 20, 2009) – The C.W. Post field hockey team went on an offensive onslaught on Sunday afternoon, and in the process snapped Merrimack's six game winning streak with a convincing 6-2 victory on Hickox Field.
C.W. Post improves to 3-4 overall while Merrimack drops to 6-4 on the season.
The Pioneers wasted little time in getting on the board, as senior forward Krystal Napolitano (Coram, N.Y.) took a pass inside the circle and attempted to beat Merrimack goalie Kerri Bergquist. But a hard foul by Bergquist gave the Pioneers a penalty stroke, which substitute freshman forward Mia Paltrineri (Middletown, Del.) came on to take for C.W. Post. At 3:32 into play, the freshman calmly sent a shot to the left of a diving Bergquist for a 1-0 lead along with her first collegiate goal.
The Pioneers would double their lead at 14:23 when sophomore Helene Bruckner stopped a rebounded shot of f the goalie pads and slipped a pass to fellow sophomore Amanda Miller (Newton, N.J.), who sent a shot into the lower left corner for a 2-0 lead.
C.W. Post struck again in the first half, this time at 25:11 on Napolitano's second goal of the season, as freshman Kellie Finn (Wamogo, Conn.) threaded a long pass from outside the circle to fellow Napolitano, who deflected the ball into the corner around Bergquist for a 3-0 Pioneer advantage.
Napolitano opened up the second half with another score, as she tallied her third goal of the season on a breakaway from midfield, beating Bergquist into the lower left corner for a 4-0 lead at 42:03.
Just six minutes later, Amanda Nann (Hamburg, N.J.) score d her team-leading fifth goal of the season on an assist from junior sweeper Vicky DeRosa (Wading River, N.Y.).
Merrimack's Jen Otis would score on a penalty stroke at 55:48 and an unassisted shot at 61:31, but never seriously threatened the Pioneer lead as freshman Caitlon Stedman (Westbrook, Conn.) scored her first collegiate goal to push the Pioneers to a 6-2 advantage at 66:18.
C.W. Post outshot the Warriors by a 21-18 count, and held a 12-9 advantage in penalty corners. Junior keeper Cortney Colern (Barker, N.Y.) made two saves in the first half to combine with sophomore goaltender Devon Trenkle (New City, N.Y.), who made six saves in the second half. Bergquist made eight saves between the pipes for Merrimack.
The Pioneers travel to cross-town rival Adelphi for a 5 p.m. matchup on September 23.