Three Different Mavericks Record Three Points as Women's Lacrosse Takes on Tampa
Box Score TAMPA, Fla. (Mar. 22, 2016) – Despite three points apiece from junior Alexa Haines (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) and sophomores Grace Davidson (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) and Emily Jehle (Wading River, N.Y./Riverhead), the Mercy College women's lacrosse team opened up its Florida trip with a, 10-9, setback to University of Tampa on Tuesday night at the Naimoli Athletic Complex.
The Mavericks (5-2) see their two-game winning streak come to an end, while the Spartans (3-7) have now won two in a row after starting the season 1-7.
Haines, Davidson and Jehle all finished with two goals and an assist to lead the Mavericks. Freshman Hunter Isnardi (Hicksville, N.Y./Hicksville) added two goals, three groundballs and six draw controls. Freshman Sarah Koehler (West Sayville, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) added Mercy's other goal, while seniors Meg McNally (Hillburn, N.Y./Lock Haven Univ.) and Nicole Kline (Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park) chipped in an assist apiece. McNally also finished with a game-high-tying five groundballs. Junior Jillian Rocco (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills East) made the start and played the first half, making two saves. Junior Shianne Judson (Bayshore, N.Y./Bayshore) played the second half, making four saves while taking the loss.
Amanda Voges led the way for Tampa with a game-high four goals. Caili Guilday played the full 60 minutes in net and made 15 saves in recording the victory.
Mercy entered the contest firing on all cylinders and continued its strong play as they jumped out to an early 2-0 lead at the 26:23 mark of the first half following goals by Isnardi and Jehle. After a Spartans timeout, Voges got the hosts on the board with her 17th goal of the season with 22:46 left in the half to make it 2-1.
Voges later evened up the score at the 16:23 mark off a pass from Amanda Rom. The Mavericks had an answer as they responded with three straight goals to take a 5-2 lead with 5:07 left in the frame. Haines started off the rally with her 10th goal of the year at the 13:22 mark before a goal from Davidson and another from Haines gave Mercy a three-goal lead.
Rom got the Spartans back within two, 5-3, following a tally with 2:39 left in the half. Jehle ensued with a man-down goal with 26 seconds left in the half following a Mavericks yellow card to make it 6-3. Mercy looked to be heading into the half with a three-goal lead, but the Spartans took the following draw control and Natalie Carraway found the back of the net with just three seconds on the clock to make it 6-4.
Tampa looked to build off the late goal, but it would be the Mavericks who scored the first goal of the half as Isnardi netted a goal on a free position shot with 23:40 left to make it 7-4. The Spartans came back with two free position goals in just two minutes to cut the Mercy deficit to one, 7-6, with 21:39 remaining. Davidson put the Mavericks lead back to two, 8-6, with a goal at the 15:52 mark off an assist from Jehle.
Voges added her third of the day to cut the deficit to one, 8-7, with 13:15 left. However, once again Mercy scored before the Spartans could even things up with Koehler getting her ninth goal of the year with 10:32 left to make it 9-7, forcing a Tampa timeout.
Out of the timeout, the Spartans scored three unanswered goals to take their first lead of the game at 10-9 with 3:23 left, forcing a Mercy timeout. The Mavericks followed by winning the draw control and drew a free position attempt with 1:46 left. Davidson would get Mercy's last good chance to score off the attempt, but Guilday was up to the challenge and came up with the stop to preserve the lead. Tampa held on as the Mavericks could not produce another opportunity to tie the score in the final minute of the contest.
Mercy held a 29-19 edge in shots, while the Spartans maintained a 22-21 advantage in groundballs.
Head Coach Dawn Anselmin and the Mavericks look to bounce back as they play at Florida Institute of Technology on Thursday, March 24th at 4 p.m.
