Liam MacKenzie – Treasurer/Sports Editor
North Andover, MA – On the eve of the first day of classes, Merrimack College Women’s Soccer gave the Warrior community another reason to celebrate. The Warriors completed a dramatic second-half comeback against the Bryant Bulldogs on Saturday, earning a 2-1 victory at Martone-Mejail Field.
The win carried even greater significance for Merrimack, as it marked the 500th career victory for head coach Gabe Mejail. After falling behind early in the second half, the Warriors quickly responded before Sophia Keogh delivered the game-winning goal late in the match.
Bryant Breaks Through First – After a scoreless opening half, Bryant was the first team to find the back of the net. Samantha Zaslaw converted a penalty kick in the 53rd minute, giving the Bulldogs a 1-0 advantage and putting Merrimack in an early second-half deficit.
With the Warriors trailing on their home field, Merrimack needed a response to regain momentum. Fortunately for the home side, that response came almost immediately.
Fuller Answers Right Back – Just one minute after Bryant took the lead, Merrimack answered with an equalizer of its own. Kylie Fuller found the back of the net in the 54th minute, quickly tying the match 1-1.
Emily McCabe was credited with the assist on Fuller’s goal. The quick response prevented Bryant from building momentum and brought new energy back to the Warriors.
Keogh Completes the Comeback – As the match entered its final minutes, it appeared that the two teams could be headed toward a draw. However, Sophia Keogh delivered the decisive moment for Merrimack.
In the 84th minute, Keogh found the back of the net to give the Warriors their first lead of the afternoon. The late goal completed Merrimack’s comeback and gave the team a 2-1 advantage.
A Milestone to Remember – Merrimack held on in the closing minutes to secure the 2-1 victory, making the afternoon about more than just another result in the win column. The comeback gave Gabe Mejail his 500th victory as head coach of Merrimack Women’s Soccer, adding another memorable chapter to his long tenure with the program.
The significance of the moment was clear in Mejail’s emotional reaction following the final whistle. After watching his team battle back from a second-half deficit, the milestone became even more memorable as the Warriors celebrated their second consecutive win.
Watch Gabe Mejail’s postgame interview and reaction by scrolling through the Instagram post here:
With the start of the academic year just one day away, Merrimack Women’s Soccer gave the Warrior community a memorable way to close out the summer. A second-half comeback, a late game-winning goal, and a milestone 500th victory made the afternoon against Bryant one the program will not soon forget.
