DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Mar. 2, 2019) – Powered by a school-record 11 goals from senior Hunter Isnardi (Hicksville, N.Y./Hicksville), the No. 10/12 Mercy College women's lacrosse team earned an 18-12 victory over Southern New Hampshire University on Saturday afternoon at Mercy Field.
The Mavericks (4-0) start 4-0 for the third straight year, while the Penmen (0-2) remain winless on the year.
Isnardi recorded ten goals in the first half and came four goals shy of tying the NCAA Division II record for goals in a game, ending the day with ten draw controls, five caused turnovers and three ground balls. Sophomores Briana Corace (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) and Casey Shimborske (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) both recorded a goal and two assists and senior Talia Stagnitta (Patchogue, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford) had a goal, two assists, six ground balls and three caused turnovers. Junior Brittani Sergio (Lake Grove, N.Y./Sachem North) netted two goals and freshman Kayla Reese (West Babylon, N.Y./West Babylon) scored her first collegiate goal. Junior Katherine Sanchez (Freeport, N.Y./Freeport) also scored and freshman Erin Chalich (Bellmore, N.Y./Mepham) had two assists and four ground balls. Senior Erin Dingman (Watertown, N.Y./Onondaga CC) had an assist and freshman Alexandra Bigilin (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Kellenberg) had three caused turnovers. Sophomore Emma Jacobsen (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) made six saves to earn the win.
Southern N.H. was led by Alexis Felt and Kristin Wilder who both had three goals and an assist. Leah Olansky played 32:26 minutes in goal and took the loss.
Isnardi opened the scoring at the 26:42 mark of the first half off an assist from Corace to make it 1-0. The Penmen answered with two straight goals to make it 2-1 with 24:44 remaining in the opening half. Isnardi went to work and showcased why she is a Player of the Year candidate by rattling off four straight goals to give Mercy a 5-2 lead with 16 minutes remaining in the half.
Wilder scored to make it 5-3, but Isnardi came back with her sixth goal of the half to make it 6-3. Southern N.H. cut the Mercy lead to 6-5 after goals from Wilder and Felt. Isnardi put the lead back to two, 7-5, at the 13:07 mark with her seventh of the game. A Merry Harrington goal for the Penmen once again made it a one-goal game, 7-6, but Isnardi finished off the half with three straight goals to give Mercy a 10-6 lead at halftime.
Corace and Shimborske started the second half with goals to give Mercy a 12-6 edge with 27:34 left. Harrington answered back with a goal to make it 12-7, but Isnardi produced her final goal of the game just under two minutes later to increase the lead back to six, 13-7.
The Penmen inched closer with two straight goals to make it 13-9 with 17:10 remaining. Sergio and Reese followed with their first goals of the season to put the Mercy lead back to six, 15-9, with 14 minutes left to play. Harrington scored again to make it 16-11, but Sanchez and Stagnitta ensued with back-to-back goals to give Mercy their largest lead of the game, 18-11, with 5:36 on the clock. A late Wilder goal would not be enough for the Penmen as Mercy came away with the win.
Mercy held a 43-21 edge in shots, a 23-12 edge in ground balls and Southern N.H. held a 17-15 edge in draw controls.
Head Coach Dawn Sachs and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday, March 6th when they play at Millersville at 4 p.m.
