Falcons protect
field hockey turf
By Justin A. Rice/Daily News correspondent
``I was feeling it from this morning,'' the senior midfielder said before being asked if she had her Wheaties for breakfast. ``That is actually what I had for breakfast. The whole team knew this was a big game and all of us got ready. Every person on the team touched the ball to get it down the field before I scored. So it was a true team win.''
Ranked seventh in this week's Kookaburra/National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division II national poll, Bentley's victory against ninth-ranked Merrimack (8-6, 3-2 Northeast-10) had big implications on the league standings. No. 4-ranked Stonehill (10-3, 4-1) was upset, 3-1, by Franklin Pierce (7-6, 3-2) last night, putting Bentley (9-3, 4-1) in a tie for first place.
But the defending NE-10 champs have already lost to Stonehill twice this season - one of which was officially a non-conference match - so the Falcons will need to keep playing well, and get some help, to capture the conference title.
``We've already had our shot,'' said Bentley second-year coach Jessica King, referring to a 4-1 loss to Stonehill on Sept. 2 at home and then a 2-1 loss on the road 20 days later. ``We can only control what we do. We can't get ahead of Stonehill unless they do something wrong. But it's nice to be a bit closer. The Northeast-10, anyone can win it.
``We could've put ourselves in a difficult situation, and put us out of the driver's seat, if we lost. (Stonehill's loss) is nice. I'll take it, but we don't count on any of that.''
The victory also meant a lot in terms of NCAA Division II regional rankings too. Last week, Bentley was No. 3 in the North Region, while Merrimack was fourth. The top three teams in the final rankings earn NCAA Division II tournament bids.
``I can't think that far ahead,'' King said of the tournament.
But she had no problem recounting last night's victory, which tied the most offensive output of the year for the Falcons, who also scored five goals in their last outing against Saint Anselm on Sept. 30.
Last night, they got goals from four players.
``We're a balanced team,'' King said. ``We don't have one big star. We rely on everybody to contribute.''
Bartlett's goal came after she put back the rebound of senior forward Abbie DeMusis. At the 28:34 mark of the same half, the Falcons went up 2-0 when senior midfielder/forward Allison St. Jean scored an unassisted goal. There was a scrum in front of the goal before St. Jena poked it past Merrimack freshman Kerri Bergquist.
Bentley put back another rebound for its third goal of the half with 1:58 to go when sophomore defender Caitlin Kamide found the back of the goal for the 3-0 edge.
Merrimack finally got its own goal about a minute later. Senior forward Jaclyn Germano beat senior goalkeeper Alyssa Sliney before Merrimack went into the half trailing 3-1.
In the second half, Bentley extended the lead 4-1 when Bartlett netted her second goal of the evening at the 26:24 mark.
Another unassisted Bentley goal came off the stick of sophomore midfielder, and Watertown native, Stephanie Sideris with 18:22 to play. The goal was her eighth of the season.
Sideris, who has four assists and 20 points on the year, is only one goal behind Bartlett (9-3-21) for most on the team.
``I just wanted one I guess,'' Sideris said.
Merrimack got one goal back about six minutes later when Germano scored her second goal of the game.
Bentley returns to action at 1 p.m. on Saturday against Southern Connecticut State. The contest is Bentley's Play for a Cure game in honor of breast cancer awareness.
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