Isnardi and Jehle Combine For 13 Points as No. 16 Women's Lacrosse Hosts No. 5 LIU Post for Senior Day
Box Score DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Apr. 22, 2017) – Despite a team-high five goals from sophomore Hunter Isnardi (Hicksville, N.Y./Hicksville) and eight points from junior Emily Jehle (Wading River, N.Y./Riverhead), the No. 16 Mercy College women's lacrosse team dropped a 16-11 decision on Senior Day to ECC foe No. 5 LIU Post on Saturday afternoon at Mercy Field.
In a ceremony prior to the game Head Coach Dawn Anselmin recognized seniors Melissa DellaRocca (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst), Tori DiFusco (Mahopac, N.Y./SUNY Cortland), Alexa Haines (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst), Jen Wandle (Rocky Point, N.Y./Rocky Point) and Jillian Rocco (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills East)
The Mavericks (13-2, 4-2 ECC) see their four-game winning streak come to an end, while the Pioneers (11-2, 6-0 ECC) have won two games in a row.
Isnardi also added seven draw controls and two ground balls, while Jehle had a goal and seven assists, recording her 100th career point in the process. Junior Grace Davidson (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) scored twice and now has 151 career points making her the program's all-time leader in points. Haines added a goal and an assist and DiFusco added a goal. Freshman Katherine Sanchez (Freeport, N.Y./Freeport) had two assists and freshman Brittani Sergio (Lake Grove, N.Y./Sachem North) chipped in a goal. Rocco played the first 25:37 in net with one save to take the loss.
LIU Post was led by Ryan McKinney who had a game-high seven goals and eight points, while Olivia Kirk played the full 60 minutes in net with eight saves to earn the win.
Mercy looked to pick up a signature win and got off to a good start as Isnardi scored off a feed from Jehle to put the Mavericks ahead 1-0 at the 28:12 mark. Davidson continued the strong start for Mercy with a tally just under a minute later, making it 2-0.
Isnardi concluded a 4-0 start with back-to-back goals, giving the Mavericks a 4-0 lead just five minutes into the contest. McKinney ended the run with a free position shot to put the score at 4-1. Jehle followed with a goal from Haines to get the Mercy lead to 5-1 with 23:16 left in the first half.
The Pioneers battled back and rattled off four straight goals to tie the game up at 5-5. Haines gave the lead back to the Mavericks at 6-5 with 9:10 left in the half. Mercy looked to have regained their edge, but LIU Post came back with four more unanswered to take the lead for good at 9-6 with 4:23 left in the half.
Isnardi stopped the run to make it 9-7, but the Pioneers ended the half with three straight goals to go into halftime up 12-7.
The Mavericks continued to fight and began the second half with two straight goals as DiFusco and Isnardi scored to make it 12-9. However, LIU Post ensued with a 3-0 spurt to increase the lead to 15-9 with 10:59 on the clock. Sergio and Davidson found the back of the net to get Mercy within, 15-11, but the deficit was too much to overcome and the Pioneers emerged victorious.
LIU Post held a 24-23 edge in shots and a 15-14 edge in draw controls, while Mercy held a 10-9 edge in ground balls.
Head Coach Dawn Anselmin and the Mavericks resume action on Tuesday, April 25th when they play at Bridgeport at 7 p.m.
