NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (Feb. 19, 2019) – Powered by a game-high six goals from senior Hunter Isnardi (Hicksville, N.Y./Hicksville), the No. 12/14 Mercy College women's lacrosse team overcame a five-goal deficit in the second half to defeat No. 16/20 Merrimack College, 13-12, in their season opener on Tuesday afternoon.
The Mavericks (1-0) win their seventh season opener in a row, while the Warriors (0-1) lose in their season opener.
Isnardi finished with six goals and had four ground balls and a game-high four caused turnovers. Junior Katherine Sanchez (Freeport, N.Y./Freeport) had three goals and sophomore Casey Shimborske (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) had two goals, an assist and three ground balls. Sophomore Briana Corace (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) scored twice and seniors Mary Mackie (Bellport, N.Y./Bellport) and Erin Dingman (Watertown, N.Y/Onondaga CC), sophomore Nicole Cotton (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) and freshman Micayla Brady (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) dished out assists. Junior Senna Tadfie (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) had four ground balls and two caused turnovers and senior Talia Stagnitta (Patchogue, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford) also had two caused turnovers. Sophomore Emma Jacobsen (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) made six saves to earn the win in goal.
Merrimack was led by Amber Feminella who had a team-high five goals and an assist. Lauren Trepaney made 12 saves to take the loss.
The Warriors opened the game with two straight goals before Isnardi tallied her first of the season to make it 2-1 with 20 minutes left in the first half. Merrimack responded with four goals in a row to take a 6-1 lead with 16 minutes remaining in the half.
Sanchez scored a free position goal at the 15:27 mark to make it 6-2 before Feminella scored again to increase the lead back to five. Corace netted her first of the season to bring the score to 7-3, but Haley Bartlett answered back for the hosts to give Merrimack an 8-3 lead with 7:21 on the clock. Sanchez recorded her second free position goal of the game with 4:14 left in the half to get Mercy within four, 8-4, heading into halftime.
The Warriors opened the scoring in the second half to increase the lead back to five, 9-4, with 27:26 left to play. Merrimack looked to be pulling away, but the Mavericks dug in and responded with three straight goals to make it 9-7 with 18:05 on the clock. Isnardi scored her second and third goals of the game and Shimborske netted her first to get Mercy within striking distance.
An Olivia Colletti goal made it 10-7 in favor of Merrimack with 17:17 left. Shimborske and Isnardi came right back with two quick goals to make it a one-goal game, 10-9, with 16:03 remaining. Bartlett gave the Warriors a two-goal lead, 11-9, after her third goal of the day at the 12:30 mark.
With their backs against the wall, Mercy roared back with four unanswered goals to take their first lead of the game at 13-11 with 4:52 left to play. Isnardi started the rally with two goals and Corace and Sanchez got in the action to give the Mavericks the lead for good. Feminella made it 13-12 with 1:33 showing, but the Mercy defense held Merrimack off the board to secure the win.
Mercy held a 29-21 edge in shots, a 21-16 edge in ground balls and went 14-of-17 on clears.
Head Coach Dawn Sachs and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, February 23rd when they play at Saint Anselm at 11 a.m.
