Oct. 26, 2009

Garden City, N.Y. -

The fifth-seeded Adelphi University field hockey team (12-7, 7-3) will be traveling to take on fourth-seeded Merrimack College (12-7, 7-3) on Wednesday, October 28 at 4:00 pm in North Andover, Massachusetts. The Panthers fell to the Warriors twice this season, 4-3 on September 19 and 2-0 on October 18.

The Panthers finished the regular season in a three-way tie with UMass Lowell (15-4, 7-3) and Merrimack. Due to the tie-breaking procedures, UMass Lowell received the third seed, Merrimack the fourth seed, and the Panthers the fifth seed.

"I am so proud of our team for all that we accomplished in the regular season. We are playing really well at the most important time and we look forward to taking on Merrimack in the first round," said Head Coach Gloria O'Connor.

Adelphi is led offensively by a pair of sophomore forwards, Julianne Gerbino (Port Jefferson, N.Y.) and Jeanette Heimerle (Smithtown, N.Y.). Gerbino leads the Panthers in points with 35 and goals with 16. Gerbino has also recorded three assists as well. Heimerle is the team-leader in assists with 13, while totaling 27 points and scoring seven goals. Sophomore net-minder Lucia Vigliotti (Westbury, N.Y.) was huge in goal for the Panthers all season. Vigliotti posted five shutouts, a 1.77 goals against average, and a .788 save percentage.

Merrimack's trio of forwards have paced the Warriors all season long. April Daugherty leads the team with 38 points (11 goals, 16 assists), Jen Otis has accumulated 37 points on 15 goals and seven assists, while Jaclyn Germano has scored 16 goals to go along with four assists. Kerri Bergquist has played every minute in net for the Warriors this season. Bergquist carries a 2.46 goals against average, a .793 save percentage, and four shutouts.

The winner of Wednesday's Quarterfinal contest will travel to face the Regular Season Champions, Stonehill College, on Saturday, October 31 at 11:00 am.