WEST HAVEN, Conn. (Apr. 11, 2023) – Despite a team-high two goals from graduate student Emma Rippon (Putnam Valley, N.Y./Iona University), the No. 15 Mercy College women's lacrosse team dropped a 17-7 decision to No. 22 University of New Haven on Tuesday night at Kathy Zolad Stadium.

The Mavericks (6-6) have dropped two of their last three games, while the Chargers (6-5) have won two games in a row.

Rippon also had a game-high-tying six draw controls and graduate student Kaitlyn Grzelaczyk (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) and freshman Andrea Mott (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) both had a goal and an assist. Graduate student Jaclyn Grzelaczyk (Seaford, N.Y./New York Tech) and sophomores Leena Moussa (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh) and Leah Hansen (Greenlawn, N.Y./Harborfields) also scored. Graduate students Micayla Brady (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) and Alexandra Bigilin (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) and junior Kelly Rosenfeld (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) had a team-high-tying two caused turnovers. Junior Olivia Maute (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) made five saves in the first half to take the loss. Freshman Olivia LaMonica (Jefferson Township, N.J./Jefferson Township) made four saves in the second half.

New Haven was led by Savannah Ernst who had three goals and two assists. Gabby Buscemi made 11 saves to earn the win.

The game remained scoreless until the 13:21 mark of the first quarter when Jaclyn Grzelaczyk scored off an assist from Mott to make it 1-0. Raegan Bailey and Gianna Caprioli scored back-to-back goals to give the Chargers a 2-1 lead with 7:53 remaining in the first quarter. Moussa evened the score at 2-2 just under a minute later. Marielle Colalillo gave the Chargers a 3-2 lead with 5:27 left in the quarter before Rippon tied the game again at 3-3 at the 4:43 mark. An Ernst goal with 37 seconds on the clock gave New Haven a 4-3 lead after the first quarter.

A Cameryn Antler man-up goal just 28 seconds into the second quarter gave New Haven a 5-3 lead. The Chargers would score the next seven goals in the quarter to take a 12-3 lead at halftime.

A Mott goal from Kaitlyn Grzelaczyk to open the third quarter made it 12-4. However, Antler found the back of the net just under a minute later to give the Chargers a 13-4 lead. Kaitlyn Grzelaczyk scored a man-up goal with 5:57 left in the quarter to make it 13-5. The score remained 13-5 heading into the fourth quarter.

Hansen scored just 33 seconds into the fourth quarter to make it 13-6. The Chargers netted three unanswered goals to take a 16-6 lead with 6:18 remaining. Rippon found the back of the net for a second time at the 3:38 mark to make it 16-7. Time would run out on the Mavericks and New Haven added a late goal to earn a 17-7 win.

New Haven held a 34-27 edge in shots, a 16-12 edge in ground balls and a 16-11 edge in draw controls.

Head Coach Dawn Sachs and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, April 15th when they play at UDC at 12 p.m.