DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (May 3, 2018) – Powered by a game-high eight points from senior Grace Davidson (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip), the No. 2 seeded Mercy College women's lacrosse team defeated No. 3 seeded NYIT, 22-9, in an ECC Championship Semifinal matchup on Thursday afternoon at Mercy Field.

The Mavericks (14-3) advance to the Championship Game on Saturday, May 5th where they will play No. 1 LIU Post at NYIT at 12 p.m. The Bears (14-5) have lost to Mercy in the semifinals each of the last two years.

Davidson finished with six goals and two assists and junior Hunter Isnardi (Hicksville, N.Y./Hicksville) added five goals, an assist, five ground balls and four caused turnovers. Isnardi recorded her 200th career goal in the contest and sophomore Katherine Sanchez (Freeport, N.Y./Freeport) added five goals. Sophomore Mary Mackie (Bellport, N.Y./Bellport) scored twice and senior Emily Jehle (Wading River, N.Y./Riverhead) had six assists. Sophomore Brittani Sergio (Lake Grove, N.Y./Sachem North) and freshmen Casey Shimborske (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) and Briana Corace (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) recorded a goal and an assist. Freshman Kellie Znaniecki (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y./Comsewogue) also scored and freshman Emma Jacobsen (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) made six saves to earn the win. Junior Talia Stagnitta (Patchogue, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford) ended the day with five ground balls and two caused turnovers.

NYIT was led by Angelina Cuevas who had two goals and an assist. Ashley Miller made 11 saves to take the loss.

The Bears scored two of the game's first three goals to take an early 2-1 lead with 20 minutes left in the first half. Sanchez and Isnardi responded with goals to give Mercy a 3-2 lead before Lexi Ruiz evened the score up at 3-3 with 16:20 left in the first half.

Isnardi, Mackie and Davidson ensued with three straight goals to make it 6-3 with 14 minutes remaining in the half. Kelly McQuail got the Bears to within 6-4 before Sanchez came back with another goal to make it 7-4. NYIT responded with two straight goals to get within one, 7-6, with ten minutes on the clock.

However, Mackie, Corace and Davidson closed the half with goals to send Mercy into halftime up 10-6.

Sergio, Davidson and Sanchez began the second half with goals to increase the Mavericks advantage to 13-6 with 26 minutes left. The Bears scored two of the next three goals to make it 14-8 with 19:40 remaining.

Mercy answered with five straight goals to increase their lead to 19-8 with 11:44 on the clock. Isnardi and Davidson both scored twice and Sanchez added another to give the Mavericks a double-digit lead. McQuail scored again to bring the score to 19-9 before Davidson, Znaniecki and Sanchez ended the scoring to put the game away for Mercy.

Mercy held a 39-21 edge in shots, a 20-19 advantage in ground balls and a 19-14 edge in draw controls.