NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Merrimack College erupted for three goals in a span of 3:03 in the second half, propelling the Warriors to a 5-2 win over Bentley University in Northeast-10 Conference field hockey Wednesday afternoon at Mejail-Martone Field.

The Merrimack barrage of goals came after the visiting Falcons, led by senior forward Leah Winer (Longmeadow/Longmeadow HS), had rallied from a 2-0 deficit to tie the match at two apiece in the second minute of the second half.

The sixth-ranked Warriors, who remained unbeaten at home and extended their winning streak to seven, jumped out to a fast start when sophomore Rylie Hammond (Phillipston) scored just 44 seconds after the opening whistle. Merrimack made it a 2-0 game with 11:28 left until intermission on an unassisted goal from senior Lindsay Dobecki (Scarborough, Maine/Scarborough HS).

Winer got the Falcons on the board with 5:40 remaining in the first, her second goal of 2015 set up by classmate Meghan Talerman (Centerville/Barnstable HS).

Winer led another Falcon senior, Kelsey Howard (Scarborough, Maine/Scarborough HS), early in the second and Howard sent the ball past keeper Madison Davis (San Jose, Calif.) and into the cage for her fourth goal of the season when Davis came out to challenge.

Hammond's ninth goal of the fall broke the tie with 18:17 to play and was followed in rapid fashion by a successful penalty stroke from sophomore Taylor Simpson (York, Maine) and the first goal of the year by junior Maura Doyle (Merrimac).

Shots were plentiful in the contest with Merrimack attempting 24 and Bentley 16. Davis was credited with five saves while junior Evelyn Schaedel (Burlington, Vt./Burlington HS) made eight for Bentley, including six in the second half.

Merrimack took over second in the NE-10, improving to 10-2 overall and 6-1 conference. Bentley, which had beaten the Warriors 1-0 at home earlier in the season, finished the day in fifth place (5-3 NE-10, 7-6 overall).

Bentley is off until Oct. 21 when it will play at Adelphi University.