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Nicole
Nicole Merigliano
2
Winner Union UNION (8-7, 4-3)
1
St. Lawrence STL (5-10, 2-5)
Winner
Union UNION
(8-7, 4-3)
2
Final
1
St. Lawrence STL
(5-10, 2-5)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Union UNION 1 1 2
St. Lawrence STL 1 0 1

Game Recap: Field Hockey |

Dutchwomen clinch Liberty League field hockey playoff bid with win at St. Lawrence

Box Score

CANTON, NY -- Union's Nicole Merigliano broke a 1-1 tie midway through the second half with her first collegiate goal, lifting the Dutchwomen field hockey team past St. Lawrence by the score of 2-1 on a rainy afternoon at Hall-Leet Stadium in Canton, NY. 

The victory gives Union (8-7, 4-3) the No. 4 seed in the 2010 Liberty League Tournament, while the loss eliminates St. Lawrence (5-10, 2-5) from post-season play. Union will play at #1 seed Skidmore in a semifinal game on Wednesday, November 3.

Despite being outshot 10-4 in the opening half, it was the Scarlet and Brown that wasted little time in taking a 1-0 lead.  Off the game's first penalty corner, junior Julia Croyle sent a pass to the top of the scoring circle for senior Brooke Maloney.  Maloney fired a shot on net that got behind Union keeper Sarah Rios and trickled towards the goal line.  Despite Union's defense's best efforts, Croyle rushed to the line and pushed the ball into the cage for her first goal of the season and a 1-0 cushion only 1:19 into regulation.

The Dutchwomen would level the scoring at 1-1 at 21:21.  St. Lawrence first-year keeper Nicole Matos was able to make an initial save with her leg pad, but the ball deflected right to Union's Kelsey Powers in front.  Powers quickly lifted a shot off her backhand over Matos and into the cage for her 10th goal of the season.

Union's defensive efforts led to the game-winning goal in transition at 50:35.  Powers again got the play started by dribbling through the midfield into the St. Lawrence scoring circle.  From there, she sent a crisp pace to Merigliano to Matos' right, and Merigliano one-timed a low shot past the goalie's left leg and into the cage for a 2-1 lead for the visitors.

The Saints would have four penalty corners after falling behind 2-1, but were unable to convert any of their chances.  Matos kept her team within striking distance with a big save on a stroke for Union's Tyler Willey. 

Union closed with a 19-10 advantage in shots, while both teams finished with nine penalty corners each.  Matos had 12 saves for the Saints, while Rios closed with four stops for the Dutchwomen.

The Dutchwomen will end the regular season with home games Wednesday, October 27 vs. SUNY New Paltz at 4 p.m. and Sunday, October 31 vs. Wheaton at 2 p.m.

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