Augustine Nets Hat-Trick as Women's Lacrosse Hosts STAC in Conference Home Opener
Box Score DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Mar. 25, 2015)- Junior Nicole Augustine (Kingston, N.Y./ Kingston) netted a hat-trick as the Mercy College women's lacrosse team dropped an East Coast Conference contest to the Spartans of Saint Thomas Aquinas College, 15-9, on Wednesday afternoon.
Courtney McGrath totaled nine points on two goals and seven assists for the Spartans who improve to 3-3 overall and 1-1 in the ECC. Freshman Grace Davidson (West Islip, N.Y. / West Islip) netted two goals and had two caused turnovers as the Mavericks fall to 4-3 overall and 1-2 in the ECC.
The Spartans netted four goals from four different players in the opening 15 minutes, before the Mavericks answered on an unassisted goal by redshirt senior Nicole Kline (Deer Park, N.Y. / Deer Park). Mercy trailed STAC, 4-1.
Kellie Kucinski would push the STAC lead to 5-1, before goals by sophomore Alexa Haines (Lindenhurst, N.Y. / Lindenhurst) and freshman Nicole Kleet (Huntington Station, N.Y. / Walt Whitman) cut the Spartans lead to 5-3 with 10:37 remaining. STAC responded with four unanswered goals in the final 10 minutes, before Davidson netted a goal with under a minute to play.
The Spartans held a 9-4 lead into halftime.
In the second half, the Spartans ballooned their lead to as large as 15-5, before the Mavericks answered with four goals late from Davidson, Senior Keri Watson (Massapequa Park, N.Y. / Massapequa), and Augustine to close the gap as the clock expired.
Kleet added three groundballs and a caused turnover, while both Davidson and freshman Hope Coticchio (West Babylon, N.Y. / West Babylon) finished with two groundballs apiece. Sophomore Melissa DellaRocca (Lindenhurst, N.Y. / Lindenhurst) finished with three draw controls. Sophomore Jillian Rocco (Dix Hills, N.Y. / Half Hollow Hills East) made four saves in 30 minutes of work, while freshman Cara Moran (Tomkins Cove, N.Y./ North Rockland) made five saves in 30 minutes of work. Rocco took the loss and falls to 3-3 overall.
Head Coach Dawn Anselmin and the Mavericks will return to action on Saturday, Mar. 28th, as they will travel to Bridgeport, Conn. to face the Purple Knights of the University of Bridgeport at 1:00 p.m.
