Merrimack's Riley Taylor tries to advance the ball during Thursday's Division II quarterfinal at Student Memorial Field. (Photo by Richard Tierney)

MERRIMACK – There’s no denying the future is bright in Merrimack – and the future has already arrived.

In their first postseason appearance under head coach Katie Todd, the No. 2 Tomahawks rolled into the NHIAA Division II semifinals with a 15-4 win over No. 7 Hollis-Brookline on Thursday. A tightly contested first half gave way to an 11-goal second-half explosion, with freshman attacker Riley Taylor and first-year goalie Sophia Richard leading the charge.

It was also a strong bounce-back performance for Merrimack, who responded after suffering its only loss of the season to Winnacunnet in their regular-season finale.

“It was my first time being in the playoffs with this group, and I couldn’t be prouder,” said Todd. “It was an overall great team win, and we’re excited to play in the semifinal round.”

Taylor was nearly unstoppable, scoring five goals and adding an assist for a six-point performance. But her impact extended far beyond the scoreboard as she dominated the draw circle, winning nine of Merrimack’s 15 draw controls as the Tomahawks held a 15-8 advantage in that category.

“She’s a phenomenal athlete, phenomenal player,” Todd said. “Riley has great game instincts for her age, and she’s so quick and efficient with draws. We’re very lucky to have her for the next few years. I couldn’t be prouder.”

The freshman impact didn’t stop there. First-year goalie Sophia Richard was rock solid between the pipes, recording 10 saves, with none bigger than a breakaway stop midway through the fourth quarter that halted any remaining Hollis-Brookline momentum.

“Ten huge saves! Especially that last one, it was a game-changer,” said Todd. “I wish I could say I taught her everything she knows, but I can’t. This is her first year playing goalie, and she’s taught herself how to play on the fly. It’s remarkable.”

Senior leader and Southern New Hampshire University commit Payton Trepaney also reached a major milestone, recording her 200th career point during the win.

“Payton is always where I need her to be,” Todd said. “Whether she’s passing or shooting, she’s always in the right spot. I would love to have her for another year.”

Merrimack, which features only six seniors on its roster, will now turn its attention to Saturday’s semifinal matchup against No. 3 Merrimack Valley (11-4). The game is set for 12 p.m. at Stellos Stadium. The Tomahawks won the regular season meeting 16-6, but Todd isn’t taking anything for granted.

“We’re really looking forward to it,” she said. “All eyes ahead. We’re taking it seriously these next couple of days. That first win doesn’t mean anything if we don’t show up on Saturday.”

As for Hollis-Brookline, the Cavaliers closed the season at 9-9 and will return 10 of their 19 players next year – a young core that gained valuable playoff experience Thursday and should make them a threat in future years.

However, they do say good-bye to 200-plus career goal scorer Sabrina Hill, who got a big goal in the first half to help make it 4-2 at the half and another in the third quarter to halt a 4-0 Tomahawks run. She’s headed to Saint Anselm in the fall

Meanwhile, if Thursday’s performance was any indication, Merrimack’s mix of youthful talent and senior leadership has them peaking at the right time.