Two Second Half Goals Rally Field Hockey Past Merrimack

Sunday, September 5

Providence, R.I.

1:00 PM

Brown University

(2-0)

Merrimack

(0-4)

Merrimack

Brown

Photo by: David Silverman Photography

Two Second Half Goals Rally Field Hockey Past Merrimack

9/5/2021 4:06:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A pair of second half goals from freshman Katie McCallum and senior Emma Rosen rallied the Brown field hockey team to a 2-1 victory over Merrimack on Sunday. Brown outshot the Warriors 23-2, putting 18 of those shots on goal. Freshman Mikayla Walsh assisted on both Brown goals, and goaltender Jodi Brine earned her second win in as many games. The win moves Brown to 2-0, their first such start since 2014.

"Just having an opportunity to play is a gift and I think today I was glad we played ourselves into the game and were able to battle back from being down a goal," head coach Jill Reeve said. "I thought our team did a really good job of that."

Senior Danielle van Rootselaar registered two of her game-high 11 shots in the second minute, but both were turned aside by the goalkeeper.

Merrimack (0-4) notched a quality chance in the closing seconds of the first quarter with a quick shot off a penalty corner, but Brine came off the line and made a key stop just ahead of the horn to keep the match scoreless.

Merrimack cracked the scoreboard early in the second when Katelyn Bennett tipped home a shot in front off an Erica Spallone assist to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute. It would be the last shot allowed by the Bears for the remainder of the game.

"Due to our youth, I think our timing elements were a little bit off," Reeve said. "It was a bit rocky at times today, but I'm happy that we got as many chances at goal as we did. I think we'll be in better position to finish more in the future."

Brown had a flurry with two quick shots in succession in the 27th minute, but both attempts were stopped by Merrimack goaltender Riley Brown for two of her 16 saves.

Trailing 1-0 at halftime, Brown tallied eight shots in the third quarter and finally broke through with the equalizer in the 39th minute off a corner attempt when Lindsey Ross inserted the ball to Walsh, leading to McCallum's goal which knotted the game 1-1.

The Bears tallied five more shots in the final three minutes of the period, with three getting stopped by the goalie and two getting blocked in front.

Brown broke through with what proved to be the game-winner in the 53rd minute. Walsh sent a ball towards the front of the goal where Rosen knocked it past the goaltender and into the net to give the Bears a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish.

Brown will return to action on Friday, Sept. 10 with a home matchup against in-state foe Bryant. Faceoff is at 4 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN+.