Merkel, the senior defender, impacted the Knights' season-opening 15-12 win over No. 13 Brockport, despite not recording a point. Merkel scooped up four ground balls, snagged a team-high six draw controls and forced three caused turnovers. The lone holdover from last year's starting defense, Merkel anchored a defense that included three new starters in junior Isabelle Sarle and sophomores Lindsay Merenda and Caroline Fitzgerald.