WALTHAM, Mass. – Despite second-half goals from junior Sam Pavano (Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand HS) and sophomore Sam Simione (Cheshire, Conn.Cheshire HS), Bentley University's comeback bid fell short as the Falcons dropped a 3-2 decision to visiting Merrimack College, the number five-ranked team in Division II, in Northeast-10 Conference field hockey Saturday afternoon.

It was a fast start for Merrimack (7-1, 3-0 NE10) as the Warriors put two on the scoreboard before the game was three minutes old. Senior Mary McNeil (Canton) gave her team a 1-0 lead after only 22 seconds, a goal that gave her 100 career points, and freshman Juliane Ohman (Bremen, Germany) made it 2-0 2:48 after the opening whistle.

McNeil scored her second of the game and tenth of the season with less than three minutes remaining before the halftime break.

Bentley removed the zero from the scoreboard with 19:05 left when Pavano took a penalty corner from senior Rachel Crowley (Leicester/Notre Dama Acad.) and drive it into the cage.

Twelve minutes later, with 7:15 remaining, the Falcons were successful on another penalty corner. Simione fired the ball into the cage after senior Niki Neidhart (San Diego, Calif./Scripps Ranch HS) put the ball into play.

Bentley appeared to score a tying goal in the waning minutes but the officials ruled the ball was not touched inside the circle.

Bentley senior Jana Mones (Ramsey, N.J./Ramsey HS) finished with seven saves while her counterpart from Merrimack, senior Katharina Ohmen (Bremen, Germany), was credited with one.

Merrimack finished with a 13-6 advantage in shots and had twice as many corners, 10-5.

The next game for the Falcons is Tuesday at 7 pm at American International.