LAKEWOOD, N.J. (Apr. 18, 2023) – Powered by a career-high six goals and eight points from sophomore Leena Moussa (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh), the No. 19 Mercy College women's lacrosse team earned a 23-9 win over Georgian Court University on Tuesday afternoon.
The Mavericks (8-6) have won two games in a row and have won eight straight meetings against the Lions (8-7). The 23 goals scored by Mercy are a new school record for goals in a game.
Moussa had six goals, two assists and two ground balls and graduate student Kaitlyn Grzelaczyk (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) had five goals. Freshman Andrea Mott (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) had four goals and three assists and sophomore Leah Hansen (Greenlawn, N.Y./Harborfields) had four goals. Graduate student Emma Rippon (Putnam Valley, N.Y./Iona University) had three goals and a season-high 14 draw controls and senior Erin Shimborske (Farmingdale, N.Y./Adelphi University) had an assist. Junior Kelly Rosenfeld (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) had a goal and an assist. Graduate student Jaclyn Grzelaczyk (Seaford, N.Y./New York Tech) had two assists and junior Christina Lopreato (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) and freshman Maeghan Callow (North Massapequa, N.Y./Plainedge) each dished out an assist. Sophomore Lindsey Shimborske (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) had seven draw controls and junior Olivia Maute (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) played the first half in goal to earn the win. Freshman Olivia LaMonica (Jefferson Township, N.J./Jefferson Township) made two saves in the second half.
Georgian Court was led by Riley O'Connor who had a game-high seven goals. Alexis Hahn made 13 saves to take the loss.
The game remained scoreless until the 12:04 mark when Moussa scored a free position goal to make it 1-0. Hansen found the back of the net with 8:54 on the clock to make it 2-0 before O'Connor scored her first goal of the day to make it 2-1 with 8:12 left in the opening quarter. Moussa made it 3-1 before Kaitlyn Grzelaczyk scored three straight goals to give Mercy a 6-1 lead with 2:33 left in the quarter. A late Alyssa Wahl goal cut the Mavericks lead to 6-2 after one quarter.
O'Connor scored the first goal of the second quarter to make it 6-3. Back-to-back goals from Moussa and Rippon gave Mercy an 8-3 lead with 10:44 left in the half. O'Connor answered with a goal 30 seconds later to make it 8-4. Two goals from Moussa and goals from Hansen and Rippon gave the Mavericks a 12-4 lead at the 4:54 mark of the second quarter. The Lions scored the final two goals of the quarter to head into halftime down, 12-6.
Mott increased the Mavericks lead to 13-6 at the 10:56 mark of the third quarter off an assist from Jaclyn Grzelaczyk. O'Connor later made it 13-7 with 8:50 left in the quarter. However, goals from Kaitlyn Grzelaczyk, Moussa, two goals from Mott and goals from Hansen and Rippon to close the quarter gave Mercy a commanding 19-7 lead after three quarters.
The Lions scored the first two goals of the fourth quarter to make it 19-9 with 11:22 remaining. Hansen, Rosenfeld, Kaitlyn Grzelaczyk and Mott ended the game with four straight goals to give Mercy the impressive 23-9 road win.
Mercy held a 43-13 edge in shots and a 26-7 edge in draw controls. Georgian Court held a 13-12 edge in ground balls.
Head Coach Dawn Sachs and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, April 22nd when they play at D'Youville at 11 a.m.
