GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (Apr. 28, 2018) –Despite a team-high four points and a game-high 12 draw controls from junior Hunter Isnardi (Hicksville, N.Y./Hicksville), the No. 10 Mercy College women's lacrosse team dropped an 18-7 decision to No. 1/2 Adelphi University on Saturday afternoon.
The Mavericks (13-3) see their three-game winning streak come to an end, while the Panthers (16-1) have won 16 games in a row.
Isnardi is now one goal shy of 200 for her career and also broke her NCAA Division II single-season record for draw controls that was set last year. The junior had 182 draw controls last season and now has 190 in four fewer games. Freshman Casey Shimborske (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) scored twice and sophomores Mary Mackie (Bellport, N.Y./Bellport) and Katherine Sanchez (Freeport, N.Y./Freeport) also scored. Senior Emily Jehle (Wading River, N.Y./Riverhead) had two assists and senior Grace Davidson (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) added an assist. Junior Talia Stagnitta (Patchogue, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford) had three ground balls and two caused turnovers. Freshman Emma Jacobsen (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) played the first half in goal and made four saves to take the loss. Senior Shianne Judson (Bayshore, N.Y./Bayshore) made three saves in the second half.
Adelphi was led by Beth Ann Pierce who had a game-high seven goals and Hailey Peterson made three saves to earn the win.
The Panthers jumped out to a 2-0 lead at the 23:50 mark before Shimborske scored on a free position shot to make it 2-1 with 22:46 left in the first half. Adelphi responded with seven straight goals to build a 9-1 advantage with 9:35 remaining in the half.
Shimborske made it 9-2 after an assist from Davidson at the 7:05 mark. The two teams traded goals twice to conclude the half with Isnardi and Mackie scoring to end the half, making it 11-4 at halftime.
The hosts opened the second half with three straight goals to increase the lead 14-4 with just under two minutes gone by in the half. Isnardi scored an unassisted goal to bring it to 14-5 before the Panther answered with three straight goals to give the Panthers a 17-5 lead.
Isnardi and Sanchez recorded back-to-back to close out the scoring for Mercy but it was not enough as Adelphi came away with the win.
Adelphi held a 35-16 edge in shots and a 19-12 advantage in ground balls, while Mercy held a 15-12 edge in draw controls.
Head Coach Dawn Sachs and the Mavericks resume action on Thursday, May 3rd when they host the winner of No. 3 NYIT and No. 6 St. Thomas Aquinas in the ECC Championship semifinals at 12 p.m.
