DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (July 8, 2024) – For the ninth year, Mercy University Athletics will recap the year by counting down the Top-10 most memorable moments of the 2023-24 season, with all 10 sports represented.
Mercy University Athletics will release a Top-10 moment, as chosen by the athletics staff, with a recap every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the next four weeks, culminating with the top moment from the 2023-24 athletic year being unveiled on Monday, July 22nd.
No. 7 – Field Hockey Qualifies for NE10 Championship for First Time
Coming in at No. 7 in our 2023-24 Top-10 Moments is field hockey who qualified for the NE10 Championship for the first time in program history.
Head Coach Marissa Spinazzola and the Mavericks were picked a program-best 11th in the NE10 Preseason Poll after going 8-7 last season, just missing out on qualifying for the NE10 Championship due to a tiebreaker. Mercy set a new school record for overall wins, NE10 wins and had the first winning record in program history in 2022. The Mavericks looked to build upon that successful season in 2023 with several key returners.
Field Hockey Selected a Program Best 11th in NE10 Preseason Pollhttps://t.co/aH7xQFIHPp
— Mercy Mavericks (@MercyMavericks) August 18, 2023
Mercy opened their 2023 season at home against Bloomsburg on September 3rd. Senior Rieley Fitzgerald scored a goal, senior Victoria Devlin had a game-high two defensive saves and junior Alexandra Giordano made 14 saves, but the Mavericks dropped a 4-1 decision to the Huskies. Following the season-opening loss, Giordano was named to the NE10 Honor Roll.
The Mavericks resumed action on September 6th at Roberts Wesleyan. Six different Mavericks scored as Mercy cruised to a 10-0 win over the Redhawks. The 10 goals scored by Mercy were a school record and the 10-goal margin of victory was also a school record. Senior Rachel Palladino led the way with three goals and senior Kate Ringstad had two goals. Junior Jessica Evans scored her first two collegiate goals and sophom*ore Samantha Trickel netted her first career goal. Sophom*ore Rebecca McClure made one save to earn her first collegiate win. After the win over the Redhawks, Palladino was named to the NE10 Honor Roll.
Spinazzola and the Mavericks hosted No. 3 Kutztown on September 14th. Despite Giordano and McClure combining for 23 saves, Mercy fell 5-0 to fall to 1-2 on the year. Mercy opened NE10 play on September 16th at Saint Michael's. Four different Mavericks scored as Mercy earned a 5-2 win over the Purple Knights. Mercy won their NE10 opener for the first time in program history and the Mavericks won at Saint Michael's for the first time. Palladino had a game-high two goals and senior Rory McComb recorded her first collegiate goal. Evans and Trickel also scored, and Giordano made three saves to earn her first collegiate win. Giordano was named to the NE10 Honor Roll after the win over Saint Michael's.
Mercy was back in action on September 20th when they hosted Molloy. The Mavericks were led by senior Kelly Rosenfeld as she had a game-high two goals and two assists to lead Mercy to a 5-1 win over the Lions. The Mavericks improved to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in NE10 play, starting 2-0 in conference play for the first time. Fitzgerald added a goal and Ringstad had a goal and an assist in the win.
Check out highlights from field hockey's win over Molloy earlier today! https://t.co/aNVbD1SXh5
— Mercy Mavericks (@MercyMavericks) September 20, 2023
The Mavericks ended the week with a 6-0 loss to Assumption on September 22nd, despite a combined 16 saves from Giordano and McClure. Devlin and sophom*ore Reagan Lane both had a defensive save in the loss. Rosenfeld was named to the NE10 Honor Roll on September 25th.
Mercy continued NE10 play on September 26th at Adelphi. Palladino and Fitzgerald both scored, but the Mavericks dropped a narrow 3-2 decision to the Panthers to fall to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in NE10 play. On Thursday, September 28th, the Mavericks traveled to No. 8 Millersville where they dropped a 5-0 decision, despite a combined 17 saves from Giordano and McClure and defensive saves from Devlin and senior Kyra Reyes.
Spinazzola and the Mavericks ended the month of September with a 5-2 loss against Southern New Hampshire on September 30th. Palladino and Volz both scored and Giordano and McClure combined for 12 saves.
Mercy began the month of October with a 6-1 loss at Pace on October 4th. Volz netted her third goal of the season as the Mavericks dropped their fifth straight game to fall to 3-7 overall and 2-4 in NE10 play. The Mavericks capped off the opening week of October with a 2-0 loss against Bentley, despite two defensive saves from Devlin.
The Mavericks had dropped six games in a row and sat at 3-8 overall and 2-5 in NE10, heading into their game at New Haven on October 10th. Fitzgerald netted two goals and an assist, Ringstad added a goal and an assist and Trickel and Rosenfeld also scored as Mercy earned a 5-3 win over the Chargers to snap their losing streak. The win gave Spinazzola a school record 16th career win as head coach, surpassing the previous record of 15 set by Kayte Kinsley.
Congrats to field hockey Head Coach Marissa Spinazzola who became the program's all-time winningest coach with her 16th career win last night at New Haven! She surpasses the previous record of 15 wins set by Kayte Kinsley. pic.twitter.com/7G9K79ZGGy
— Mercy Mavericks (@MercyMavericks) October 11, 2023
Spinazzola and the Mavericks continued their winning ways on October 14th when they earned a 2-1 win at American International to improve to 5-8 overall and 4-5 in NE10 play. Palladino netted both goals and senior Flynn Kirk and Devlin both had a game-high two defensive saves as the Mavericks defeated AIC for the third straight time.
Mercy made it three wins in a row on October 18th when they earned a 5-4 come-from-behind overtime win over St. Thomas Aquinas. Ringstad had a career-high three goals, including the game-winning goal in overtime and Palladino netted two goals. Palladino set a new single-season school record with her 11th goal of the season, surpassing the previous mark of 10 set by assistant coach Alyssa Sacco last year. STAC held a 4-1 lead in the 34th minute before goals from Ringstad and Palladino made it 4-3 after three quarters. The Mavericks evened the score at 4-4 in the 54th minute when Palladino fired home a Fitzgerald cross. The game went to overtime where Mercy drew a penalty stroke in the 67th minute. Ringstad connected on the penalty stroke, giving Mercy the 5-4 come-from-behind overtime victory.
Congratulations to field hockey senior Rachel Palladino who has set a new single-season school record with her 11th goal in today's win over STAC! She surpasses the previous record of 10 set last season by current assistant coach Alyssa Sacco! pic.twitter.com/nXdyxd8BFk
— Mercy Mavericks (@MercyMavericks) October 18, 2023
Check out highlights from field hockey's come-from-behind victory over STAC earlier today! https://t.co/jYT34BhDWy
— Mercy Mavericks (@MercyMavericks) October 18, 2023
The Mavericks stayed hot, extending their winning streak to four games with a 3-1 win over Franklin Pierce on October 21st. Ringstad, Palladino and Rosenfeld all scored, and Giordano made four saves to move Mercy to 7-8 overall and 6-5 in NE10 play. Mercy had won four games in a row for the first time since 2015. Following the win over Franklin Pierce, Ringstad and Devlin were named to the NE10 Honor Roll.
Spinazzola and the Mavericks saw their winning streak come to an end with a 5-2 loss at No. 6 Saint Anselm on October 24th. Ringstad and Rosenfeld both scored in the loss. Despite the loss, the Mavericks made history by securing their first-ever NE10 Championship berth.
History Made! Congrats to field hockey who have secured their first-ever berth into the NE10 Tournament! The Mavs will play in the Quarterfinals on Tuesday, October 31st! pic.twitter.com/f8eSwKsbk9
— Mercy Mavericks (@MercyMavericks) October 25, 2023
Mercy ended the regular season against Southern Connecticut State on October 27th where they honored Ringstad, Rosenfeld, McComb, Schreck, Kirk, Palladino, Reyes, Fitzgerald and Devlin for Senior Day. Four different Mavericks scored in the game as Mercy earned a 5-1 win over the Owls to conclude the regular season winning five of their last six games. Palladino had a game-high two goals in the win and set a new single-season school record with her 29th point, surpassing the previous record of 26 set last season by Sacco. Ringstad added her 10th goal, Fitzgerald netted her sixth goal and Volz recorded her fourth goal of the season. Giordano made a game-high 10 saves in 51:15 minutes of action to earn the win. With the win, Mercy ended the regular season 8-9 overall and 7-6 in NE10 play. Mercy matched their school record for wins in a season. Following the win over the Owls, Giordano and Ringstad were tabbed to the NE10 Honor Roll.
Congrats to field hockey senior Rachel Palladino who has set a single-season school record with her 29 points this season! She surpasses the previous record of 26 set by assistant coach Alyssa Sacco last season! pic.twitter.com/UWjj31oLcE
— Mercy Mavericks (@MercyMavericks) October 29, 2023
The Mavericks secured their first-ever NE10 Championship berth as a No. 7 seed and would play at No. 2 seed Saint Anselm on October 31st. Mercy held their own against the nationally-ranked Hawks but fell 4-1 to see their season come to an end in the NE10 Quarterfinals for the first time ever. Volz scored the Mavericks lone goal, off a Fitzgerald assist, and Giordano made a game-high eight saves to take the loss. Mercy ended their 2023 season at 8-10, tying the school record for wins in a season.
At the end of the season, Ringstad was named Second Team All-NE10 and Palladino was tabbed Third Team All-NE10. Ringstad was named All-Conference for the first time after ranking second on the team with 26 points, 10 goals and six assists. Palladino also received All-Conference recognition for the first time after recording a team-high 29 points and 14 goals. She set a single-season school record in goals and points, ranking third in the NE10 in goals and sixth in points.
Ringstad and Palladino Named to NE10 Field Hockey All-Conference Teamshttps://t.co/HkHhydGPBQ
— Mercy Mavericks (@MercyMavericks) November 1, 2023
The accolades continued to roll in for the Mavericks as Rosenfeld was named to the 2023 NFHCA Division II Senior Team. Rosenfeld started 47 games in three seasons with 12 goals, 11 assists, 35 points and two game-winning goals. She ranks in the top 10 in program history in goals, assists and points.
Rosenfeld Named to 2023 NFHCA Division II Senior Teamhttps://t.co/8jkwK9xZWb
— Mercy Mavericks (@MercyMavericks) November 15, 2023
Mercy also excelled in the classroom with 14 student-athletes named to the NE10 Fall Academic Honor Roll and 16 student-athletes named to the NE10 Spring Academic Honor Roll. Ringstad and Palladino were both named to the NE10 Field Hockey Fall Academic All-Conference Team and Ringstad was tabbed to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team. The team posted a 3.53 GPA during the fall semester and a 3.62 GPA during the spring semester. Reyes, Ringstad and Volz also earned the NE10 Presidents' Award for Academic Excellence to cap off the year academically.
Ringstad and Palladino Named to NE10 Field Hockey Academic All-Conference Teamhttps://t.co/Hv5dHwmJTr
— Mercy Mavericks (@MercyMavericks) January 24, 2024
Three From Field Hockey Earn NE10 Presidents' Award for Academic Excellencehttps://t.co/txNSVdCeEg
— Mercy Mavericks (@MercyMavericks) July 8, 2024
The Mavericks made history in 2023 and will look to improve upon that success in 2024.
Schedule for the Top-10 Moments of the 2023-24 Season
Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for the next four weeks, the Mercy University Athletic Department will release the Top-10 moments one at a time beginning with the No. 10 moment on Monday, July 1st. The No. 1 moment will be unveiled on Monday, July 22nd.
No. 1 – July 22nd
No. 2 – July 19th
No. 3 – July 17th
No. 4 – July 15th
No. 5 – July 12th
No. 6 – July 10th
No. 7 – July 8th
No. 8 – Softball Qualifies for ECC Championship for Fourth Straight Year
No. 9 – Baseball Wins 20 Games for Fourth Time Since 2018
No. 10 – Garrett Kirkland Sets School Record for Career Three-Pointers and Games Played
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