Press Release

  SMC, MERRIMACK EARN WINS AT DOUBLETREE KICK OFF CLASSIC         
   Saint Michael’s blanks Caldwell, 3-0; Merrimack knocks off East Stroudsburg, 3-1   

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                               FOR MORE INFORMATION
September 4, 2005                                                                              Contact: Seth Cole
                                                                                                          Phone: (802) 654-2537

COLCHESTER, Vt. – Saint Michael’s College and Merrimack College each were victorious on Sunday to conclude play at the Doubletree Kick Off Classic, Sponsored by Sodexho Services, held on Duffy Field at Doc Jacobs Complex. In the opener, Merrimack (2-1) edged East Stroudsburg University (3-1), 3-1, and in the tournament’s final contest, Saint Michael’s (1-2) shutout Caldwell College (0-2), 3-0.

In the finale, Saint Michael’s head coach Marcel Choquette earned his program-record 53rd career victory as the Purple Knights picked up their first win of the season. Freshman Kelley Ruch (Woodstock, Vt./Woodstock) opened the scoring off of an assist from classmate Kelley Boyden (Jericho, Vt./Mount Mansfield Union) in the 15th minute with her second goal in as many games, which proved to be the game-winner. She also assisted on classmate Meagan Pokorny’s (Agawam, Mass./Cathedral) first career goal in the 72nd minute to complete the scoring. Senior Judy Cronin (Norfolk, Mass./King Philip Regional) added an unassisted goal for Saint Michael’s, while sophomore Molly Cole (Dover, N.H./Dover) stopped four shots for her first collegiate shutout.

For Caldwell, freshman Annie LaForge (Wayne, N.J.) recorded five saves.

In Sunday’s first game, tournament co-MVP Lindsay Sheffield (Georgetown, Mass.) scored the first two goals as Merrimack notched its second win in as many days. Sheffield’s goals came in the 37th and 57th minutes, off of assists from sophomore Shannon Dowling (Malden, Mass.) and senior Hilary Caccamo (Milton, Mass.), respectively. Caccamo pushed Merrimack’s lead to 3-0 in the 60th minute, with freshman Caitlin Hall (Westminster, Mass.) recording an assist, and sophomore Shannon Rowan (Fair Haven, Conn.) stopped three shots.

For East Stroudsburg, senior Jamie Lombardo (Yardley, Pa.) tallied an unassisted goal in the 63rd minute, and sophomore Samantha Marina (Phillipsburg, N.J.) turned aside eight shots.

Sheffield and Merrimack junior Heather Carr (Wakefield, R.I.) were named tournament co-MVP’s. The rest of the All-Tournament Team includes: Merrimack’s Caccamo, East Stroudsburg senior Lisa Howell (Airville, Pa.) and junior Charlene Conklin (East Stroudsburg, Pa.), Saint Michael’s Ruch and junior Rachel Gallien (Addison, Vt./Vergennes Union), and Caldwell sophomore Tory Marcus (Ocean City, N.J.) and freshman Samantha Rinks (Corinth, Texas).

Saint Michael’s returns to action on Wednesday, as the Purple Knights host defending Northeast-10 Conference regular-season and tournament champion Franklin Pierce College at 4 p.m.

GAME #1 SUMMARY
Merrimack                     1          2          - 3
East Stroudsburg           0          1          - 1

First Half: MER, Sheffield (Dowling), 36:21.
Second Half: MER, Sheffield (Caccamo), 56:58; MER, Caccamo (Hall), 59:09; ESU, Lombardo (unassisted), 62:36.
Shots: MER 18, ESU 8.
Corner Kicks: MER 6, ESU 3.
Goalkeepers: MER, Rowan (90:00), 3 saves; ESU, Marina (90:00), 8 saves.

GAME #2 SUMMARY
Caldwell                        0          0          - 0
Saint Michael’s              2          1          - 3

First Half: SMC, Ruch (Boyden), 14:37; SMC, Cronin (unassisted), 22:30.
Second Half: SMC, Pokorny (Ruch), 71:17.
Shots: CAL 10, SMC 18.
Corner Kicks: CAL 10, SMC 12.
Goalkeepers: CAL, LaForge (90:00), 5 saves; SMC, Cole (90:00), 4 saves.

###PURPLEKNIGHTS###

For more information please contact the SMC Sports Information Office at (802) 654-2537
Last Revised: October 25, 2002