North Andover, Mass. Senior Jenna Masionis (Ashland, Mass.) potted her team leading seventh goal of the season to get American International to back within one, however, it was not enough as Merrimack defeated the Yellow Jackets 3-2 in Northeast-10 field hockey action this evening at Martone-Mejail Field.

With the win the Warriors improve to 6-5 overall and 2-3 in the conference while AIC falls to 4-6 on the season and 0-3 in the NE-10.

Merrimack started the scoring in the 8th minute when freshman Taylor Simpson (York, Maine) tipped home a shot from sophomore Kaitlin McCauley (Newburyport, Mass.) for the 1-0 edge.

The Yellow Jackets responded in the 15th minute as sophomore Emma Heroth (Johnstown, N.Y.) found the back of the cage off a rebounded shot for the 1-1 tie.

Merrimack was able to answer as they took the 2-1 lead into the locker room at the intermission.

Freshman Rylee Hammond (Phillipston, Mass.) found junior Christine Zubkus (Dover, N.H.) with a beautiful cross from left to right and she fired one home in the 22nd minute for the Warriors.

Merrimack wasted little time building on their lead coming out of the break as Simpson found junior Sydney Bowker (Schnectady, N.Y.) for the finish and the 3-1 advantage just 40 ticks into the final frame.

American International started on a late comeback in the 58th minute as Masionis ripped a shot through a screen and into the cage cutting the deficit in half a 3-2.

Masionis then had multiple chances for the equalizer in the 64th and 66th minutes but was denied each time by junior Madison Davis (San Jose, Calif) to preserve the win for the hosts.

The Warriors outshot the Jackets 33-24 including an 18-14 clip on goal and also led in penalty corners 11-6.

Junior goaltender Ainslee Pennfield (Greenfield, Mass.) made 15 saves in the defeat and saw her record fall to 4-6 while her counterpart, Davis, stopped 12 shots and improved to 6-4 on the year.

AIC returns to action Tuesday night as they travel to Southern Connecticut for a 7 p.m. matchup.