DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Mar. 4, 2020) – Powered by a game-high four goals and five points from junior Briana Corace (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac), the No. 11 Mercy College women's lacrosse team earned a 13-9 victory over Jefferson University in their home opener on Wednesday afternoon at Mercy Field.
The Mavericks (3-0) start 3-0 for the fifth straight season and win their home opener for the tenth straight season. The Rams (0-3) remain winless on the year.
Corace had four goals, an assist and one ground ball. Senior Katherine Sanchez (Freeport, N.Y./Freeport) and sophomore Erin Chalich (Bellmore, N.Y./Mepham) had two goals and one assist. Junior Casey Shimborske (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) had two goals and senior Brittani Sergio (Lake Grove, N.Y./Sachem North) and sophomore Taylor Bishop (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) had one goal each. Sophomores Kaitlyn Grzelaczyk (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) and Kerri Cummings (Islip, N.Y./Islip) had two assists and senior Talia Stagnitta (Patchogue, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford) had one goal, three ground balls, two caused turnovers and six draw controls. Freshman Sydney Corley (Coram, N.Y./Newfield) dished out an assist. Sophomore Micayla Brady (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) had a game-high seven ground balls and six caused turnovers. Sophomore Madeline Garvalosa (Seaford, N.Y./St. Anthony's) made six saves to earn the win.
Jefferson was led by Erin Campbell who had two goals, two assists, five ground balls and five caused turnovers. Kelsey Kaplowitz made 13 saves to take the loss.
Mercy got on the scoreboard first at the 26:28 mark when Shimborske scored off an assist from Sanchez to make it 1-0. Jefferson followed with two straight goals to take a 2-1 lead with 25:39 remaining in the half.
Sanchez and Corace netted back-to-back goals to put the Mavericks back on top at 3-2 with 18:55 on the clock. Two more goals from Corace and a goal from Chalich gave Mercy a four-goal lead, 6-2, with eight minutes left in the half.
The Rams answered with two goals to get within two, 6-4, at the 6:42 mark. Shimborske scored her second of the game to make it 7-4 before Erin Avanzato scored for Jefferson to make it 7-5. Sergio tallied a free position goal with 2:04 on the clock to give Mercy an 8-5 lead at halftime.
Stagnitta, Bishop, Chalich, Corace and Sanchez opened the second half with five straight goals to give Mercy a 13-5 lead with 12:29 left to play. Jefferson came back with four straight goals to make it 13-9 with 1:55 left, but the deficit proved too much to overcome and the Mavericks came away with the win.
Mercy held a 33-22 edge in shots, a 28-23 edge in ground balls and a 15-9 edge in draw controls.
Head Coach Dawn Sachs and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, March 7th when they host No. 1 Le Moyne at 11 a.m.
