Isabelle Gardiner Leads Merrimack Field Hockey to Vital Win

NORTH ANDOVER, MA – Merrimack Field Hockey picked up a much-needed victory at home on Friday afternoon over NEC rival Rider.

The Warriors’ third win on the season comes at the perfect time, as they snap a 5-game skid and get the momentum back on their side going into Senior Day next week.

Isabelle Gardiner stood on her head in net, leading the way for the Warriors. Rider scored just five minutes into the game, but after that Gardiner was flawless. On the day, she stopped 11 of 12 shots, including five of five penalty corners.

While the Broncs got on the board first, the rest of the game was all Merrimack. Senior Paige Degeorge scored her first career goal to tie the game in the first half before Darla Mahoney tallied for the second straight game to take the lead.

In the second half, Gardiner continued her stellar play, making tough save after tough save to keep MC on top. With six minutes remaining in the game, Parker Parker notched another first career goal to pull ahead and make it 3-1. From there, Merrimack held on for the big win.

The Warriors are back in action next Friday for their last game of the season – Senior Day on Halloween – when they host Stonehill. Action gets underway at 3 p.m.