Throggs Neck, NY - The University of Mount Saint Vincent held off a late push to earn a hard-fought 7-6 victory over Maritime in a tightly contested matchup on Wednesday evening. The victory gave the Dolphins its third conference win of the season, good for the sixth and final Skyline Conference postseason spot in the final week of the regular season.
The Dolphins came out strong in the opening quarter, jumping out to a 3-1 lead behind goals from Ella Meberg, Nevaeh Martin, and Divana Carillo. The team then added to its advantage in the second, as Isabelle Gurley found the back of the net to make it 4-1.
Maritime responded in the third quarter with back-to-back goals to cut the deficit to one, setting up a competitive final frame. The fourth quarter turned into a back-and-forth battle, with Martin scoring twice in the period to help the Dolphins maintain their edge. Maritime, however, continued to answer, eventually tying the game at 6-6 midway through the quarter.
With the game hanging in the balance, Gurley delivered the decisive moment, scoring late in the fourth to give Mount Saint Vincent a 7-6 lead. The Privateers had the ball within the last minute of action with a player advantage, but UMSV's clutch defense would shine through, causing two different turnovers to ensure arguably the biggest win of the season.Â
The freshman Martin had one of her biggest performances to date, with a hat trick and four total points. She also added two caused turnovers, with Isabella Melecio leading the team with three. In addition to her offensive success, Gurley helped in the possession battle with five draw controls, while Makenna Reekie had another fantastic game in net with 13 saves across 19 shots on goal.Â
The Dolphins will look to close out the regular season on a high note on Saturday against St. Joseph's Long Island.Â
