DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Feb. 19, 2019) – The Mercy College women's lacrosse team begins the 2019 season looking to qualify for the ECC Tournament for the fourth straight year and make their second NCAA Tournament appearance in three years. The Mavericks are ranked No. 12 nationally in the IWLCA Preseason Coaches Poll entering their first game of the season at No. 16/20 Merrimack on Tuesday.
Seventh-year Head Coach Dawn Sachs and the Mavericks return seven of their top nine scorers from a year ago, including 2018 IWLCA and ECC Division II Midfielder of the Year Hunter Isnardi. Sachs also brings back First Team All-American senior Talia Stagnitta on defense and sophomore Emma Jacobsen returns after a strong freshman season in goal. Sachs and the coaching staff also added to the roster with a strong 11-member recruiting class that looks to put Mercy back in the hunt for an NCAA Tournament appearance. The Mavericks were picked second in the ECC Preseason Coaches Poll and Isnardi and Stagnitta were tabbed ECC Preseason Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, respectively.
Mercy will face a difficult schedule taking on nationally-ranked programs in Merrimack, New Haven, Bentley, West Chester, LIU Post and NYIT.
Midfield
The midfield will be led by arguably the best player in Division II in Isnardi who was the Inside Lacrosse, IWLCA and ECC Midfielder of the Year in 2018 after leading the country in goals and draw controls. The senior was crowned an NCAA statistical champion in draw controls and goals per game and was named IWLCA First Team All-Region. Isnardi started all 18 games and also led the nation in draw controls per game and free position percentage. The midfielder ended the year with 97 goals and 106 points and set a new NCAA single-season record for draw controls with 214, breaking her own record set in 2017.
Also looking to contribute in the midfield is freshman Micayla Brady who was named All-County and All-Conference at Massapequa High School. According to Sachs, Brady's speed, endurance and all-out effort is going to help the team on both sides of the ball.
Freshman Kaitlyn Grzelaczyk will also see action at midfield. The native of Seaford has impressed Sachs with her speed and ability to make plays on both sides of the ball.
Attack
Leading the Mavericks at attack is junior Katherine Sanchez who was a Second Team All-ECC selection a year ago after ranking fourth on the team with 59 points on 40 goals and 19 assists. Sophomore Casey Shimborske will also contribute at attack during her sophomore season in Dobbs Ferry after posting 13 goals, five assists, 20 ground balls and nine caused turnovers a year ago.
Junior Mary Mackie will also see time at attack after starting all 18 games a year ago. Mackie finished with 23 goals, five assists and 17 ground balls a year ago and tallied a goal in all but two games. Freshman Taylor Bishop joins the attack after being a four-year varsity member at West Milford High School and setting the school record for most goals with 190.
Defense
The Mavericks defense will be led by First Team All-American and ECC Defender of the Year Talia Stagnitta. The senior ranked second in the ECC last season with 33 caused turnovers and was fifth with 50 ground balls. Stagnitta also excelled with draw controls ranking eighth in the ECC with 61 and also tallied two goals and six assists.
Senior Erin Dingman will also see playing time on defense after posting six goals, four assists, six ground balls and six caused turnovers a year ago after starting all 18 games. Junior Senna Tadfie also returns on defense after starting all 18 games last season and recording seven caused turnovers.
Freshmen Alexandra Bigilin and Juliana Keenan will also appear for the Mavericks on defense. Bigilin was an All-League and MVP recipient at Kellenberg Memorial High School and was a two-time Brine All-American selection. Keenan was an All-County recipient at Plainedge High School and will be mainly working the crease.
Jacobsen returns in goal for Sachs after going 14-3 with 91 saves last season as a freshman. The native of Miller Place has impressed in the preseason and looks to be a key strength for the Mavericks heading into the season.
