Preview: Spartans Seek First-Ever Post Season Victory in Newly Created ECC Field Hockey Tournament

Final	1	2	T
St. Thomas Aquinas (4-14)	0	0	0
Mercy (5-12)	1	1	2

Scoring Summary

1st - 11:37 - Anthony, Brooke (Mercy)

2nd - 69:23 - Smith, Briannagh (Mercy)

Game Leaders

St. Thomas Aquinas

G: N/A

A: N/A

Sh: 2 Players (#3, #26) - 3

Sv: Suzanne Clarke - 5

Mercy

G: 2 Players (#3, #16) - 1

A: Angela Robbins - 1

Sh: Angela Robbins - 4

Sv: Cheradyn Pettit - 4

Team Stats

St. Thomas Aquinas

Mercy

Shots (on goal)

10 (7)

11 (8)

Saves

Fouls

Penalty Corners

full stats

Posted: Oct 31, 2018

The St. Thomas Aquinas College Women's Field Hockey team takes the #3 seed into Thursday's East Coast Conference Tournament, traveling to face #2 Mercy College at 2:00 pm.

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How They Got Here - The Spartans wrapped up the regular season with a record of 4-13, however the East Coast Conference has created a new post season tournament based on the head-to-head records of the three institutions with Field Hockey programs (LIU Post competes in the Northeast-10 Conference). The standings/seeding results are as follows: #1 Molloy College 12-5 (3-1 ECC), #2 Mercy College 4-12 (2-2 ECC) & St. Thomas Aquinas College 4-13 (1-3 ECC).

The Match-Up - St. Thomas Aquinas played a pair of contests against Mercy College this season, splitting the 2-game series, with each match going to overtime. STAC picked up its victory on September 5th in a 2-1 OT decision. In that match, both teams traded first half goals as Briannah Thorne got the Spartans on the board first, with Alicia Williams tying things up late in the stanza for the Mavericks. It took a Kaylee Pistner goal in extra time to settle things in favor of the home team maroon and gold.

The next encounter by these two teams was October 10th in Dobbs Ferry, with Mercy getting the scoring started just five minutes into the match on a Sabrina Anderson tally. St. Thomas Aquinas picked up the next two goals before the opening period was over, as Arielle Rodriguez and Briannah Thorne lit the lamp to make it a 2-1 STAC lead at the half. However, the Mavericks did not go quietly and just two minutes into the final frame, Angela Robbins tied things up at two goals apiece. Yet again the squads would need additional time to determine a winner, and Alicia Williams would break the tie a little over four and a half minutes into OT to give Mercy College the 3-2 victory.

Players to Watch - The Spartans were led by Briannah Thorne during the regular season, as she posted 24 points (9 goals & 6 assists) on the year. In the cage, Suzanne Clarke played in all 17 contests, sporting a 3.19 goals against average and a .676 save percentage. On the other side, the Mavericks were led by Alicia Williams, as she put up 15 points (6 goals & 3 assists) on the season. In net, both Julia Amell and Cheradyn Pettit saw significant playing time for Mercy. Amell, in 14 games, posted a 1.86 goals against average and a .758 save percentage, while Pettit participated in 13 contests, racking up a 2.10 goals against average and a .800 save percentage.

What's Next? - The winner of this semi-final match-up will have a quick turnaround, as the advancing team will play the #1 seed Molloy College for the Tournament Championship on Friday, November 2nd at 3pm in Seaford, NY at Cedar Creek Park.