Augustine and Kleet Combine for 12 Goals as Women's Lacrosse Defeats American International, 15-10, in Season Opener
Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Mar. 2, 2015) - Freshman Nicole Kleet (Huntington Station, N.Y. / Walt Whitman) and junior Nicole Augustine (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston) combined for 12 goals as the Mercy College women's lacrosse team defeated the Yellow Jackets of American International College, 15-10, in the season opener on Monday afternoon.
Redshirt senior Nicole Kline (Deer Park, N.Y./ Deer Park) netted two goals as the Mavericks improve to 1-0 overall, while Cheyenne Carden netted five goals for the Yellow Jackets that fall to 1-1 overall.
Kleet and Augustine both scored four goals apiece as the Mavericks erased a 1-0 deficit to take a 9-1 advantage with 5:26 remaining in the first half. The Yellow Jackets scored with 37 seconds remaining in the first half, but the Mavericks maintained the 9-2 lead at intermission.
AIC opened the second half by scoring back-to-back goals to cut the Mavericks lead to 9-4 with 26:22 remaining. Kleet and Augustine would end the Yellow Jackets short run as they netted back-to-back goals of their own. Mercy took an 11-4 advantage with 22 minutes remaining.
Mercy increased their lead to 14-5 on goals by Kleet, Kline and a free position goal by redshirt senior Meg McNally (Hillburn, N.Y. / Lock Haven Univ.). Carden netted three more goals for the Yellow Jackets to close out the game.
Sophomore Melissa DellaRocca (Lindenhurst, N.Y. / Lindenhurst) finished with four caused turnovers and three groundballs, while freshman Hope Coticchio (West Babylon, N.Y. / West Babylon) finished with five groundballs and three caused turnovers. Sophomore Jillian Rocco (Dix Hills, N.Y. / Half Hollow Hills East) made two saves and earned the victory in 30 minutes of action, while freshman Cara Moran (Tomkins Cove, N.Y. / North Rockland) made five saves in 30 minutes of action.
Head Coach Dawn Anselmin and the Mavericks return to action on Wednesday, Mar. 4th, as they will host the national semifinalist Pioneers of LIU Post University in the home opener at 3:00 p.m.
