Field Hockey Falls to Union College, 4-0

CHICOPEE, Mass. – Elms College sophomore goalkeeper Samantha Alvino (Holtsville, N.Y.) notched 14 saves but Union College's Nicole Merigliano (Larchmont, N.Y.) netted three first half scores to help lift the Dutchwomen to a 4-0 victory in Wednesday evening's non-conference field hockey game at Leary Field.

With the loss, Elms moves to 1-10 on the season, while Union improves to 3-6 overall.

Merigliano notched her first goal of the contest in the seventh minute of play scoring on a loose ball following a drive by Annie Reardon (Dedham, Mass.) to give Union a 1-0 lead.

Merigliano struck again at the 24:33 mark, this time on a pass from Allison Troy (Bradford, N.H.) to set the score at 2-0. She completed her hat-trick less than two minutes later to give the Dutchwomen a 3-0 lead. Her third marker of the game was assisted by Alex Wood (Northampton, N.H.).

Alvino made 10 of her saves in the first half as Union outshot the Blazers 13-2 in the first 35 minutes of action.

In the second half, Alexi Steriti (Nahant, Mass.) tallied the final goal of the contest in the 62^nd minute of action on a pass from Danielle Melia (Arlington, Mass.) to help the Dutchwomen secure the 4-0 win.

Elms' junior forwards Kelly Martin (Enfield, Conn.) and Kayla Narey (South Hadley, Mass.) registered the team's two shots in the game, and junior defender Elizabeth Patient (Leicester, Mass.) made a defensive save for the Blazers in the losing effort.

Steriti and Merigliano had five shots on goal each in the winning effort.

Elms opens New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) play on Saturday, October 5 at Wheelock College at 12:00 p.m. in Boston, Mass.