RINDGE, N.H. (Feb. 18, 2023) – Powered by a career-high four goals from sophomore Leena Moussa (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh) and a career-high six caused turnovers from sophomore Lindsey Shimborske (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale), the No. 11 Mercy College women's lacrosse team earned a 17-9 win over Franklin Pierce University in their 2023 season opener on Saturday afternoon at Sodexo Field.
The Mavericks (1-0) win their 11th straight season opener and improve to 2-0 all-time against the Ravens (0-1).
Moussa had a game-high four goals with an assist and Shimborske had a game-high six caused turnovers with a goal and four draw controls. Graduate student Kaitlyn Grzelaczyk (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) had three goals and recorded her 100th career point with her second goal of the game. Graduate student Emma Rippon (Putnam Valley, N.Y./Iona University) scored three goals and had a game-high-tying seven draw controls in her Mercy debut. Graduate student Jaclyn Grzelaczyk (Seaford, N.Y./New York Tech) netted two goals in her first game as a Maverick and sophomore Leah Hansen (Greenlawn, N.Y./Harborfields) recorded two goals. Freshmen Andrea Mott (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) and Maeghan Callow (North Massapequa, N.Y./Plainedge) posted their first collegiate goals in their collegiate debut and senior Erin Shimborske (Farmingdale, N.Y./Adelphi University) had a game-high three assists with four ground balls and three caused turnovers. Graduate student Micayla Brady (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) and junior Carly Diolosa (Brookhaven, N.Y./Bellport) both added two caused turnovers and junior Olivia Maute (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) made three saves in the first half to earn her first collegiate win.
Franklin Pierce was led by Hayley Hermsdorf who had a team-high three goals. Erin Blake played the first half in goal and made four saves to take the loss.
Mercy jumped out to a 4-0 lead less than five minutes into the game, as Hansen scored twice and Moussa and Lindsey Shimborske added goals. The Ravens scored the next three goals to make it 4-3 with 6:07 left in the first quarter. Kaitlyn Grzelaczyk and Mott added their first goals of the season to give the Mavericks a 6-3 lead after one quarter.
Rippon, Moussa and Jaclyn Grzelaczyk opened the scoring in the second quarter with three straight goals to put Mercy up, 9-3, with 11:30 left in the half. A Katelyn Hadden goal made it 9-4 at the 5:49 mark. However, Callow scored her first collegiate goal with 3:37 on the clock to give the Mavericks a 10-4 lead at halftime.
Rippon and Moussa scored the first two goals of the third quarter to make it 12-4 before back-to-back goals from Kaitlyn Grzelaczyk increased the Mavericks lead to 14-4 at the 10:59 mark. Gabrielle Oswald made it 14-5 with 8:28 left in the quarter before Rippon scored the final goal of the period, off an Erin Shimborske assist, to give the Mavericks a 15-5 lead after three quarters.
The Ravens scored the first four goals of the fourth quarter to make it 15-9 with 4:20 remaining. Moussa and Jaclyn Grzelaczyk put an end to any hope of a Franklin Pierce comeback with consecutive goals to give Mercy a 17-9 lead with 1:57 left. The Mavericks defense did not allow a shot for the remainder of the game to earn the season-opening win.
Mercy held a 39-21 edge in shots and a 17-12 edge in draw controls. Franklin Pierce held a 22-15 edge in ground balls.
Head Coach Dawn Sachs and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, February 25th when they host nationally-ranked Le Moyne at 12 p.m.
