PENACOOK – A fourth-quarter comeback seemed imminent for Merrimack Valley’s field hockey team after struggling to get clear shots on goal despite good movement forward through three quarters against Bow.

With 10 minutes left in the game and down by two goals, senior forward Alyssa Brodeur was assisted by Kaiya Mercier to end the shutout by shooting low and powerfully. But Bow held onto the lead with tough defense over the last 10 minutes and won, 2-1, the sixth consecutive victory for Falcons (9-1).

“One of our biggest strengths is that we don’t stop playing,” said Merrimack Valley head coach Jen Colgan. “I said to them going into the fourth that we’ve got 15 minutes left. Don’t stop, keep the energy, keep the push, keep doing the things that you know you should do, and then good things happen. So we were close.”

Overall, the Falcons played to their strengths and capitalized on the few opportunities they had. Both teams had eight penalty corners given and Bow had one more shot on goal than the Pride (6-3).

Bow head coach Sarah Vaughn thought her young team still had room to improve in its mental game.

“Just working hard through the whole game, keeping that intensity high,” Vaughn said. “They acted defeated. I had to stop time to refocus them and remind them to play to their potential.”

The Falcons’ first goal was scored by junior midfielder Josie Johnson before half on a deflected shot from a corner, assisted by Elise Jacques. The second came as they continued their momentum in the third quarter and freshman right forward Peyton Vaughn connected with senior forward Ella Gray to widen the lead.

“We've been working on our mental game just as much as our physical game. It seems like we have our physical game down, but the program as a whole is super young, so it's getting those athletes to that next level,” said coach Vaughn.