LAKELAND, Fla. (Mar. 10, 2018) – Despite a game-high six goals from junior Hunter Isnardi (Hicksville, N.Y./Hicksville), the No. 8/9 Mercy College women's lacrosse team dropped a 19-12 decision to No. 1 Florida Southern College on Saturday afternoon.
The Mavericks (5-1) drop their first game of the year, while the Moccasins (8-0) have won 23 regular season games in a row.
Isnardi also added an assist and five draw controls. Freshman Casey Shimborske (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) added two goals and senior Emily Jehle (Wading River, N.Y./Riverhead) finished with a goal and two assists. Sophomore Brittani Sergio (Lake Grove, N.Y./Sachem North) scored a goal and added an assist and senior Grace Davidson (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) and sophomore Katherine Sanchez (Freeport, N.Y./Freeport) also scored. Senior Hope Coticchio (West Babylon, N.Y./West Babylon) had a game-high six ground balls along with two caused turnovers. Freshman Emma Jacobsen (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) made five saves in the first half and took the loss.
Florida Southern was led by Meghan O'Brien who had a team-high four goals and three assists. Mary Gately made five saves to earn the win.
The Moccasins scored the game's first goal at the 24:01 mark of the first half to take a 1-0 lead. Davidson and Isnardi answered back with back-to-back goals to put Mercy ahead 2-1 with 15:51 remaining in the half. O'Brien scored her first of the day to tie the game up at 2-2. Isnardi and Shimborske followed with two unanswered of their own to give Mercy a 4-2 lead with 13:13 left in the half.
The Mavericks continued to hold a two-goal lead, 6-4, with 11:21 remaining in the half after Isnardi and Jehle scored. Florida Southern made it 6-6 with ten minutes left before halftime before Isnardi gave the lead back to Mercy with a free position goal at the 7:34 mark. The Moccasins would conclude the half with five straight goals to take an 11-7 lead at halftime.
Florida Southern opened the second half with three straight goals to build a 14-7 lead with 25:26 remaining. The Mavericks continued to battle and held their own with the No. 1 team in the country, responding with five of the next six goals to make it 15-12 with 14 minutes left after a Sergio goal. However, the momentum was short-lived as the Moccasins closed the game with four more goals to hold off the Mavericks.
Florida Southern held a 48-29 edge in shots, a 26-19 advantage in ground balls and a 21-12 edge in draw controls.
Head Coach Dawn Sachs and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, March 17th when they host Jefferson at Pace University at 6:30 p.m.
