DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (May 1, 2021) – Powered by a game-high four goals from sophomore Erin Shimborske (Farmingdale, N.Y./Adelphi University) and senior Briana Corace (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac), the No. 19 Mercy College women's lacrosse team earned a 12-6 win over ECC foe No. 16 Roberts Wesleyan College on Saturday afternoon to secure their second straight ECC Regular Season Championship.
The Mavericks (11-1, 5-0 ECC) have won nine games in a row and win their first outright regular season championship in program history. Mercy shared the regular season championship in 2019 with LIU Post. Mercy also avenges their lone loss of the season to the Redhawks (11-1, 4-1 ECC) who suffer their first loss of the year. The loss for Roberts Wesleyan snaps a 13-game winning streak dating back to last year and the six goals scored is their fewest since April 30, 2019.
Shimborske had a career-high four goals and added three ground balls. Corace had four goals and freshman Kelly Rosenfeld (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) had a goal and two assists with three ground balls and two caused turnovers. Freshman Christina Lopreato (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) had a goal and an assist and graduate student Mary Mackie (Bellport, N.Y./Bellport) and junior Kaitlyn Grzelaczyk (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) also scored. Junior Kerri Cummings (Islip, N.Y./Islip) had two assists and junior Erin Chalich (Bellmore, N.Y./Mepham) had one assist. Senior Kellie Znaniecki (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y./Comsewogue) and junior Micayla Brady (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) each had three caused turnovers and four ground balls. Brady recorded her 100th career ground ball, becoming the seventh Maverick to reach the mark. Senior Emma Jacobsen (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) made a season-high seven saves in the first half to earn the win. Junior Madeline Garvalosa (Seaford, N.Y./St. Anthony's) made two saves in the second half.
Roberts Wesleyan was led by Emily Tomei and Lindsey Brinkel who both had a team-high two goals. Natalie Arieno made six saves to take the loss.
The ECC Regular Season Championship was on the line and Mercy broke through first when Shimborske scored her first of the day less than two minutes in to make it 1-0. The Redhawks answered with a man-up goal less than a minute later to tie the game at 1-1.
The Mavericks responded with five straight goals to take a 6-1 lead on the undefeated Redhawks, playing a man-down for most of the time due to two yellow cards by Juliana Keenan (Bethpage, N.Y./Plainedge). Corace got the run started and scored two more goals, while Shimborske and Mackie also scored to give Mercy a five-goal lead.
A goal by the Redhawks at the 13:34 mark made it 6-2, but Lopreato answered less than a minute later to make it 7-2. A Tomei goal made it 7-3 with 11:28 remaining in the first half. Grzelaczyk scored the final goal of the half to give Mercy an 8-3 lead at halftime. The Mavericks defense limited the high octane offense of the Redhawks to just three goals in the opening half.
Roberts Wesleyan scored the first two goals of the second half to make it 9-5 with 13:11 left to play. Rosenfeld increased the Mercy lead back to five with her goal, making it 10-5 with 8:41 remaining. The Redhawks scored their final goal of the game with 6:52 on the clock to get within, 10-6. Mercy would put the finishing touches on the win with goals from Shimborske and Corace to secure the ECC Regular Season Championship.
Roberts Wesleyan held a 24-23 edge in shots and a 14-6 edge in draw controls. Mercy held a 23-16 edge in ground balls.
Head Coach Dawn Sachs and the Mavericks resume action on Thursday, May 6th when they host St. Thomas Aquinas in an ECC Tournament Semifinal matchup at 2 p.m.
