Field Hockey Shutout at Merrimack, 3-0

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (September 24, 2016) – The Franklin Pierce University field hockey team came up empty yet again on Saturday night, as the Ravens suffered a 3-0 loss at the hands of Merrimack in Northeast-10 Conference play at Martone-Mejail Field. Senior forward Hannah Magerman scored twice to lead the way for the Warriors.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 2-5 (0-3 Northeast-10) and has lost five in a row, while Merrimack improves to 2-4 (2-1 Northeast-10). Franklin Pierce has now been shutout in three straight games and is currently mired in a scoreless streak of 268:29, stretching back to the first half against Saint Anselm on Sept. 11.

Merrimack struck twice in a span of 3:59 in the first half to open up a 2-0 lead on Saturday evening. Sophomore forward Samantha Bartush did the heavy lifting on the first goal, as she stick-handled her way through traffic in the middle of the circle. With just the goalkeeper left to beat and the defense trying to track her down from behind, Bartush laid the ball off to her right, around Franklin Pierce junior goalkeeper Meaghan Williams (Salem, N.H.). The feed set up the second goal of the season for junior forward Rylie Hammond, who had a simple finish into an empty cage in the 23rd minute.

Later, in the 27th minute, Magerman would corral a bouncing ball in the middle of the circle and slot a shot inside the right post for her first goal of the campaign. Hammond and sophomore midfielder Mary McNeil were credited with the assists on the play.

Merrimack added an insurance marker early in the second half, to create what would stand as the 3-0 final score. The Warriors capitalized on a turnover by the Franklin Pierce backline, as the Ravens attempted to clear their own end. Junior forward Taylor Simpson forced the turnover and pushed the ball towards the cage on the right-wing side. Once in the circle, she sent a cross to the middle for Magerman, who was left with an easy finish for her second goal of the game.

Merrimack controlled the run of play throughout the evening affair. The Warriors enjoyed advantages of 20-8 in shot attempts, 9-4 in shots on goal and 6-2 in penalty corners.

Williams (2-5) finished with six saves against nine shots on goal in a losing effort for Franklin Pierce. Freshman netminder Katharina Ohmen (2-2) stopped all four shots she faced at the other end of the field to pick up the win for Merrimack and post her first collegiate shutout.

The Ravens return to the field on Tuesday, Sept. 27, when they return home to host Saint Michael's in a Northeast-10 contest. Game time is set for 4 p.m. at Sodexo Field in Rindge.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce field hockey can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).