HOOKSETT, N.H. (Feb. 21, 2020) – Powered by a game-high four points from senior Brittani Sergio (Lake Grove, N.Y./Sachem North) and a career-high 18 saves from sophomore Madeline Garvalosa (Seaford, N.Y./St. Anthony's) in her first collegiate start, the No. 10/12 Mercy College women's lacrosse team opened its 2020 season with a 12-6 win over Southern New Hampshire University on Friday afternoon at Penmen Stadium.
The Mavericks (1-0) win their eighth straight season opener, while the Penmen (0-1) fall in their season opener.
Sergio had three goals and an assist and junior Casey Shimborske (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) had two goals and one assist. Sophomores Erin Chalich (Bellmore, N.Y./Mepham) and Taylor Bishop (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) scored two goals and sophomores Kaitlyn Grzelaczyk (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) and Juliana Keenan (Bethpage, N.Y./Plainedge) both had a goal and an assist. Senior Katherine Sanchez (Freeport, N.Y./Freeport) also scored and sophomore Micayla Brady (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) had an assist and a team-high three caused turnovers. Senior Talia Stagnitta (Patchogue, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford) had a caused turnover and now holds the all-time program record for caused turnovers with 107, surpassing the record of 106 she shared with Hunter Isnardi. Garvalosa made 18 stops and allowed just six goals to pick up her first collegiate win.
Southern N.H. was led by Kelsey Long who had three goals. Hayle Ashford made seven saves to take the loss.
Mercy opened the game with four straight goals to take a 4-0 lead with 18:25 left in the opening half. Bishop scored first at the 25:28 mark following an assist from Brady and Sergio made it 2-0 with her first of the day with 24:09 on the clock. Shimborske made it 3-0 less than a minute later and Sergio netted her second of the game to give Mercy a 4-0 lead.
Long got the Penmen on the board with 17:57 left in the first half, but Grzelaczyk, Bishop and Chalich followed with three straight goals to put Mercy up, 7-1, with 4:41 left in the first half. Southern N.H. closed the half with two straight goals to head into halftime down, 7-3.
Mercy started the second half with four consecutive goals to build an 11-3 lead with 14:43 remaining and Garvalosa made 12 saves in the second half alone to help allow the Mavericks to pull away. Keenan, Chalich, Sanchez and Shimborske started the scoring in the half to give Mercy an eight-goal advantage.
The Penmen responded with three straight goals to get within five, 11-6, with 7:34 left. However, Sergio scored less than a minute later to increase the lead back to six, 12-6, and the Mavericks held on for the season-opening win.
Southern N.H. held a 27-20 edge in shots, a 28-16 edge in ground balls and 12-8 edge in draw controls.
Head Coach Dawn Sachs and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, February 29th when they play at Bentley at 2:30 p.m.
