Field Hockey Closes Out Homestand vs. Merrimack Sunday

Sunday, September 18

Hanover, N.H.

12:00 PM

Dartmouth College

Merrimack

Photo by: Eli Burakian

Field Hockey Closes Out Homestand vs. Merrimack Sunday

9/16/2022 9:34:00 AM | Field Hockey

Game Notes (PDF)Watch Live Stats International Stream

Sunday will serve as the final tune-up before the Ivy League opener at Cornell

By: Justin Lafleur

GAME 6
Dartmouth (2-3) vs. Merrimack (0-5)
Date: Sunday, September 18, 2022 – 12 p.m.
Location: Hanover, N.H. – Chase Field
All-Time Series: Dartmouth, 2-0
Last Time: 9/19/22 – W, 5-0
Watch (ESPN+) | Live Stats | International Stream

SETTING THE SCENE
The Dartmouth field hockey team is set for its fourth straight home game on Sunday as the Big Green welcome Merrimack at 12 p.m. Dartmouth is coming off a 2-0 weekend, beating Northeastern (4-3) and Sacred Heart (4-2). The Northeastern victory was especially meaningful, as it was the first for the Big Green against the Huskies since 1987 – snapping a 13-game losing streak in the series. Senior Holley Cromwell was recognized on Monday with Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week honors, Dartmouth's first weekly award since 2017. On Sunday, the Big Green will be vying for their first three-game winning streak since October of 2017.

LAST TIME OUT
HANOVER, N.H. (9/11/22) – The Dartmouth field hockey team rebounded from an early 1-0 hole to score the next four goals, on the way to a 4-2 win over Sacred Heart on Sunday afternoon at Chase Field. The victory marks the second straight for the Big Green, who improve to 2-3 on the young season. Four different goal scorers paced Dartmouth, with Payton Altman's third-quarter tally proving to be the game-winner.

SCOUTING MERRIMACK
Merrimack enters Sunday's game with an 0-5 record, falling to Colgate (4-1), La Salle (3-1), Vermont (6-1), Bryant (2-1) and most recently UMass-Lowell (6-1). The Warriors' five goals have been scored by five different players: Katelyn Bennett, Anne-Sophie Hogenboom, Abby Allen, Lauren Burke and Meghan McCarthy. Bennett and Hogenboom also have an assist, good for a team-leading three points apiece, while Hogendoom also owns the team's only defensive save.

Last season, Merrimack finished 1-16 with its lone win coming against Saint Francis (Pa.) by a 3-2 final in overtime. Hogenboom led the Warriors in scoring with 10 points behind three goals and four assists.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE WARRIORS
Dartmouth leads the all-time series with Merrimack, 2-0, beating the Warriors on Sept. 22, 2019 (4-1) and Sept. 19, 2021 (5-0). Current Big Green student-athletes Meg Barnes, Holley Cromwell, Lila Browne and Payton Altman all scored a goal in last season's victory. Isabelle Gardiner has played every minute in goal, recording a 4.20 goals against average and 63.2 save percentage.

HISTORIC WIN OVER NORTHEASTERN
Dartmouth earned a 4-3 win over Northeastern on Sept. 9, a historic victory which marked the Big Green's third in the all-time series against Northeastern and first since 1987. The four goals marked Dartmouth's most since a 5-0 win over Merrimack last Sept. 19. Caroline Carr scored twice in the win, the first two goals of her career, while Holley Cromwell and Payton Altman netted the others.

SCORING, SCORING, SCORING
With Dartmouth's four goals against Sacred Heart on Sunday (Sept. 11), the Big Green now have 13 goals through five games – their most through any five-game stretch since the 2018 season. It's also the most through the first five games of any season since 2018.

Dartmouth also has multiple goals in three straight games for the first time since early in the 2019 campaign. The Big Green have now scored 4+ goals in back-to-back games for the first time since Sept. 9-10 of 2017. Dartmouth's 10 goals over its last three games mark its most over a three-game stretch since scoring 11 from Sept. 1-9 of 2018.

THAT MAINE SUCCESS
In the season opener at No. 22 Maine (a 5-2 loss), the Big Green finished with their most goals scored against Maine since the 2017 season — a 5-3 loss at home on Sept. 17, 2017. The two goals were Dartmouth's most against a nationally-ranked opponent since scoring twice against No. 19 Boston College on Sept. 13, 2019. The Big Green scored their most goals at Maine since the 2016 season, while the goal differential (-3) was their best at Maine since 2014.

WELCOME, COACHES!
This August, head field hockey coach Mark Egner announced the additions of Tanner Ridgely and Jen Callahan to his coaching staff as assistant coach and volunteer assistant, respectively. They join Maggie Reddecliff to round out the staff.

Ridgely arrives in Hanover after spending the 2021-22 academic year as a volunteer assistant coach with the Towson field hockey program. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in sport and recreation management with a minor in general business from James Madison University in 2021. While at James Madison, Ridgely spent three seasons on the field hockey team. She has also been a head coach for the Warhawks Field Hockey Club since November 2020.

No stranger to the Upper Valley, Callahan brings a wealth of coaching experience to Dartmouth. After a decorated four-year playing career at the University of Vermont, she got her start in coaching at Lehigh as a graduate assistant and moved up the ranks to be the transitional head coach in early 2011. After Lehigh, Callahan took the reins of the American International College field hockey program, leading the Yellow Jackets to the semifinals of the NE10 Championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament during the 2011 season. Callahan spent nearly a decade with the USA Field Hockey Futures Program and has recently served as a Lebanon recreation volunteer coach in soccer, field hockey and lacrosse. A 2009 graduate of Vermont with a bachelor's degree in elementary education, Callahan went on to receive a master's degree in teaching and learning from Lehigh in 2011. She also holds a USA Field Hockey Level II Developmental Coaching Accreditation and a USA Field Hockey Level I Coaching Accreditation.

THIRD IN THE NATION!
Last February, the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) announced the recipients of the 2021 Division I National Academic Team Awards. Dartmouth, along with 78 other programs, were honored with the distinction, presented to programs that earn a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher during the fall semester of the 2021-22 school year.

The Big Green's 3.76 team GPA ranked third in the entire nation and top amongst the Ivies, just beating out Brown's 3.75 team GPA.

"I am in awe of this achievement by each of the athletes on our roster," said head coach Mark Egner. "For the past number of years our athletes have sustained this standard of academic success. This is something that is incredibly important as we strive to provide the premier student-athlete experience."

MEET THE FRESHMEN
Olivia Galiotos
Defender/Midfielder
Virginia Beach, Va. | Norfolk Academy
Before Dartmouth: Played field hockey, lacrosse, and swam at Norfolk Academy… Named to NFHCA All-American Third Team and Max Field Hockey All-American Second Team as a senior… A member of the Cum Laude Society.
Personal: Daughter of Jennifer and Tasos… has one brother and one sister… plans to study economics and start a career in business/law.
From the Coach: "Olivia was recognized with All-American honors by two different groups for her play this past fall. In addition to being a player of impact, she is also a fantastic human who knows how to lead by example. Her dedication and work ethic leave no doubt that she is going to be prepared for preseason in the fall."

Florentina Terra
Midfielder
Montevideo, Uruguay | Instituto Juan XXIII
Before Dartmouth: Played field hockey at Instituto Juan XXIII… Was pre-selected for the Uruguayan U-16, U-19, and U-21 national teams… Won the U-14 National Silver Cup and the U-16 National Bronze Cup.
Personal: Daughter of Pilar Victorica and Miguel Terra… has one brother… plans to study engineering and pursue a career in aerospace engineering.
From the Coach: "Florentina has represented her country at the youth national team level, while also achieving at the highest level in the classroom. Showing that she is well prepared for the rigor of an Ivy League athletic experience. Her ability to play at speed is something that really excites us as we aim to push the tempo of our game forward this coming season."

Boau-Lilly Shepherd
Midfielder/Forward
Walton-on-Thames, England | Cranleigh School
Before Dartmouth: Played field hockey at Cranleigh School… Five-time School National Champion, three in outdoor and two in indoor.
Personal: Daughter of Natalie and Andrew… has four sisters… plans to study chemistry and pursue a career in business.
From the Coach: "Boau-Lilly's experiences with Surbiton HC, East Grinstead and at school at Cranleigh means she has had access to some of the top coaching and playing opportunities in the UK. Her speed and individual technique have the potential to be impactful in our attacking group, and I look forward to seeing her make the transition to NCAA field hockey."

Zoe Schaffer
Forward
Austin, Texas | St. Stephen's Episcopal School
Before Dartmouth: Played four years of field hockey, soccer, and lacrosse at St. Stephen's Episcopal School… Two-time NFHCA High School National Academic Squad honoree… Three-time All-SPC selection in field hockey, once in soccer and lacrosse.
Personal: Daughter of Susan and Steve… has two brothers… plans to study economics and pursue a career in business.
From the Coach: "Goals win games, and I think Zoe has scored in every game I have seen her play. Her ability to read a play and know where to be in the circle speak to her approach of the game. Diligent and dedicated, I look forward to her getting in the circle and helping generate goalscoring opportunities for our team."

Ava Carlson
Goalkeeper
Collingswood, N.J. | Moorestown Friends School
Before Dartmouth: Played four years of field hockey, three years of lacrosse, and swam for one year at Moorestown Friends School… Won the Friends League championship as a sophomore… Four-time All-Friends League First Team selection in field hockey… NFHCA National Academic Squad Scholar as a sophomore.
Personal: Daughter of Jodie and Jay Carlson… plans to study computer science and engineering and to pursue a career in the field.
From the Coach: "Ava's dedication to fine tuning her craft of goalkeeping has really stood out throughout her recruiting process. Working regularly to improve her technique and develop, I'm sure she will continue to flourish here at Dartmouth College. Once she learns the details of our defense, she'll be ready to organize those in front of her."

FOLLOW ALONG
Sunday's game can be seen on ESPN+, with Damien Tarala on the call. Live stats will be available as well.

WHAT'S AHEAD
After this weekend, the Big Green will open Ivy League play on Friday, Sept. 23 at Cornell. Gametime is set for 4 p.m. on ESPN+. Dartmouth will then travel to Syracuse on Sunday, Sept. 25 to face the Orange at 1 p.m.