DAVENPORT, Fla. (Mar. 7, 2018) – Powered by a career-high nine goals and 11 points from junior Hunter Isnardi (Hicksville, N.Y./Hicksville), the No. 8/9 Mercy College women's lacrosse team exploded for a school-record-tying 21 goals in a 21-9 victory over Georgian Court University on Wednesday afternoon at Northeast Regional Park.
The Mavericks (5-0) start 5-0 for the second straight year, while the Lions (1-4) have dropped two games in a row. The 21 goals ties the previous mark set against Lancaster Bible on March 26, 2010 and against Southern Connecticut State on March 10, 2011.
Isnardi also added a game-high 16 draw controls and had one ground ball. Sophomores Katherine Sanchez (Freeport, N.Y./Freeport) and Mary Mackie (Bellport, N.Y./Bellport) both added four goals and an assist and senior Grace Davidson (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) finished with three goals and an assist. Senior Emily Jehle (Wading River, N.Y./Riverhead) dished out five assists and sophomore Brittani Sergio (Lake Grove, N.Y./Sachem North) added a goal. Juniors Erin Dingman (Watertown, N.Y./Onondaga CC) and Talia Stagnitta (Patchogue, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford) both recorded an assist and senior Hope Coticchio (West Babylon, N.Y./West Babylon) and junior Sarah Quarto (Mahopac, N.Y./St. Thomas Aquinas College) had a team-high two caused turnovers. Freshman Emma Jacobsen (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) made the start in goal and played the first half with seven saves to earn the win.
Georgian Court was led by Samantha Fernandez who had a team-high four goals. Amber Neumann made ten saves to take the loss.
Mercy wasted little time in getting their offensive rolling with Isnardi opening the scoring just 33 seconds in to take a 1-0 lead. Fernandez followed with her first of the day to tie the game up at 1-1. The Mavericks took the lead for good with three straight goals to build a 4-1 advantage. Isnardi finished off another pass from Jehle and Mackie put two into the net to give Mercy the lead.
The Lions responded with two straight goals to get within, 4-3, with 21:53 left in the first half. Isnardi continued her impressive day with two more goals to give the Mavericks a 6-3 lead at the 16:19 mark. Fernandez made it 6-4 before Davidson tallied three straight goals to put Mercy ahead 9-4 with 13:30 on the clock.
Sanchez got into the scoring and Isnardi netted two more goals to increase the lead to 12-4. Fernandez ended the 6-0 Mercy run with her third of the game to make it 12-5. Isnardi tacked on her seventh goal of the half and Sanchez put away two unassisted goals to give the Mavericks a comfortable 15-5 advantage with four minutes left in the half. The Lions made it 15-7 with two consecutive goals, but a Sergio goal right before halftime gave Mercy a 16-7 lead at halftime.
Sanchez set the tone for the second half with a goal less than a minute in to give the Mavericks a 17-7 advantage. Mercy held a double-digit lead the rest of the way as Mackie and Isnardi scored two goals apiece in the half to give the Mavericks the victory.
Mercy held a 39-23 edge in shots and a 25-6 advantage in draw controls, while Georgian Court held a 19-16 edge in ground balls.
Head Coach Dawn Sachs and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, March 10th when they play at No. 1 Florida Southern at 1 p.m.
