Great Team Performance Leaves Women's Lacrosse Just Short Against ECC Foe Molloy
Box Score PURCHASE, N.Y. (April 5, 2012) – A great team effort in which a trio of Mavericks netted two goals and three others scored once along with some spectacular saves by junior goalkeeper Stephanie DiLegge (Bay Shore, N.Y.) was not quite enough for the Mercy College women's lacrosse team on Thursday afternoon as they fell, 10-9, to East Coast Conference foe Molloy College.
Molloy, which received votes in the most recent IWLCA rankings, improves to 4-6 overall and 1-0 in the ECC, while Mercy slips to 1-6 (0-2).
The Mavericks held the edge in draw controls (13 to eight) but struggled to maintain possession, committing 27 turnovers.
Molloy kicked off the scoring just 16 seconds into the match as the Lions won a free position shot, which junior attacker Kaitlynn Kelly (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) put away for the 1-0 lead. Mercy answered back with three straight goals to go up by two and traded shots through the remainder of the half until junior midfielder Julie Darnulc (Baldwin, N.Y.) found the back of the net with only 16 seconds remaining to take a one-goal edge into the break, 5-4.
The Mavericks defended their lead through the opening 10 minutes of the second half but a pair of goals by junior attacker Codi Reiser (Farmingdale, N.Y.) on assists from junior attacker Alexa Toscano (Bethpage, N.Y.) gave Molloy the lead once again. The Mavericks found themselves down two goals but grabbed one back when freshman midfielder Michelle Tiernan (Farmingdale, N.Y.) took a pass from freshman attacker Marissa Kluber (Wading River, N.Y.) and put it away, only for Reiser to return the favor to Toscano for another strike.
Mercy converted a pair of free position shots to tie things up with 10 minutes to play and again at the 7:25 mark, but Toscano had one goal left in her and handed Molloy the eventual game-winner with 4:10 remaining. Mercy was unable to get a shot off as the game wound down and bowed out, 10-9.
Kluber led the Mavericks with three points on a goal and two assists while freshman midfielder Alyssa Handel (Medford, N.Y.), sophomore attacker Kelsey Bub (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) and Tiernan each netted a brace. Handel also raked a team-high seven ground balls and Tiernan picked up five draw controls. DiLegge made 14 saves in net, including stopping Molloy on an incredible eight of 11 free position attempts.
Toscano led the Lions with three goals and a trio of assists for six points, while Kelly picked up six ground balls. Freshman goalkeeper Caitlin Cooksey (Wantagh, N.Y.) made only two saves while allowing four goals and freshman Laura Vetter (Great River, N.Y.) made three while allowing five.
Head Coach Francesca DeLorenzo and the Mavericks will look to bounce back on Tuesday, April 10 when they travel to ECC rival Queens College (5-2, 0-2) at 3:30 p.m.
