MOUNT ST. MARY'S (1-8, 0-0 NEC) vs. WAGNER (3-7, 0-0 NEC)
Friday, April 3, 2015 | 3 p.m.
Waldron Family Stadium | Emmitsburg, Md.
VIDEO: NECFrontRow.com
GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS
MOUNT UPDATE: After concluding a 1-8 non-conference schedule, the Mount enters conference play with its fourth-consecutive home game at Waldron Family Stadium on Friday, April 3, versus Wagner. The NEC slate will include four home games and three road games with the top four teams qualifying for the NEC Tournament on May 1 and 3.
LAST TIME OUT: In the final non-conference tune-up before Northeast Conference play, the Mount dropped a 10-7 decision to visiting Columbia on Sunday afternoon at Waldron Family Stadium despite a strong second half. Marley Heller and Erin Seipp paced the Mount's offense with two goals apiece. Mount St. Mary's outscored Columbia by a 4-3 margin in the second half, but it was not enough to overcome a 7-3 halftime deficit.
ABOUT WAGNER: The Seahawks, last year's NEC runner-up, snapped a five-game losing streak with a 22-3 shellacking of Delaware State on Tuesday. Reigning NEC Defensive Player of the Year Shea Gegan leads Wagner this season in goals (23), assists (12), ground balls (40) and caused turnovers (34) from her midfield position. Gegan leads the nation with 3.50 caused turnovers per game and is second with 4.0 ground balls per game. In addition to the win over Delaware State, Wagner has secured victories over Manhattan and Lafayette on the year.
LAST SEASON VS. THE SEAHAWKS: In last year's meeting, the Mount could not hold off a strong second-half surge by Wagner, falling by a final score of 15-6 on the road. Then-senior Hannah Gutcher netted three goals for the Mountaineers in the loss.
The Mount held a 4-3 lead over Wagner 20 minutes into the game, but the Seahawks rattled off seven-consecutive goals to gain the upper hand. Wagner outscored the Mount, 11-2, in the second half to pull away.
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. WAGNER: Mount St. Mary's holds a 15-4 lead in the all-time series with the Seahawks, which dates back to the Mount's second varsity season in 1997. The Mount had won nine in a row over Wagner until last year's loss. The Mount is a perfect 9-0 in games played in Emmitsburg in the series.
MOUNT IN THE NEC: Mount St. Mary's has gone undefeated in Northeast Conference play twice in school history, putting together a 7-0 record in 2004 and an 8-0 mark in 2007. Since the start of the 2007 season, the Mount has gone 45-22 in NEC regular season games, good for a .672 winning percentage.
IN THE RECORD BOOKS: A number of players are etching their names in the Mount St. Mary's record books. Junior goalkeeper Steph Rurkowski ranks sixth in school history with 219 career saves. Also on the defensive end, senior Melissa Cox checks in at 14th in program history with 76 career draw controls. Erin Seipp is tied for 15th in Mount history with 78 goals and has 103 career points, which put her in 16th place.
NEC PRESEASON POLL: The Mount was selected fifth in the NEC Preseason Coaches Poll. Bryant, Wagner and Robert Morris finished 1-2-3 in the poll, followed by Central Connecticut and the Mount. Sacred Heart, LIU Brooklyn and Saint Francis U rounded out the poll.
UP NEXT: The Mount plays on the road for the first time since March 17 with a game at Saint Francis U in Loretto, Pa. on Friday, April 10, at 3 p.m.
