BUFFALO, N.Y. (Apr. 22, 2023) – Powered by a game-high five goals from graduate student Emma Rippon (Putnam Valley, N.Y./Iona University), the No. 19 Mercy College women's lacrosse team earned an 18-5 win over ECC foe D'Youville University on Saturday afternoon.
The Mavericks (9-6, 4-1 ECC) have won three games in a row and have secured their seventh straight ECC Tournament berth. The Saints (8-8, 3-2 ECC) fall to 0-4 all-time against Mercy.
Rippon had a season-high-tying five goals and graduate student Kaitlyn Grzelaczyk (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) had three goals and an assist. Sophomore Leah Hansen (Greenlawn, N.Y./Harborfields) had three goals and an assist and sophomore Leena Moussa (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh) had two goals. Freshman Andrea Mott (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) had a goal and two assists and graduate student Jaclyn Grzelaczyk (Seaford, N.Y./New York Tech), senior Sydney Corley (Coram, N.Y./Newfield), junior Kelly Rosenfeld (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) and junior Ryleigh Hostinsky (Point Pleasant Borough, N.J./Point Pleasant Borough) also scored. Junior Brooke Zarou (Garden City, N.Y./Long Island University) had an assist and senior Erin Shimborske (Farmingdale, N.Y./Adelphi University) had a game-high three caused turnovers. Sophomore Lindsey Shimborske (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) had a game-high-tying six draw controls with two caused turnovers and junior Olivia Maute (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) had four saves in the first half to earn the win. Freshman Olivia LaMonica (Jefferson Township, N.J./Jefferson Township) made one save in the second half.
D'Youville was led by Sam Newlin and Jillian Bernas who both had a goal and an assist. Brinn Stworzydlak made five saves to take the loss.
The Saints took a 1-0 lead at the 14:09 mark of the first quarter on a Sydney Gordon goal. Kaitlyn Grzelaczyk tied the game at 1-1 with 13:19 remaining in the quarter before two goals from Moussa and one from Jaclyn Grzelaczyk made it 4-1 with 10:08 on the clock. Hansen, Kaitlyn Grzelaczyk and Rippon followed with three straight goals to cap a 7-0 run that gave Mercy a 7-1 lead with 4:54 left in the quarter. A Madison Buck goal made it 7-2 with 1:07 on the clock and Mercy headed into the second quarter with a 7-2 lead.
Kaitlyn Grzelaczyk, Rosenfeld, Hansen and Rippon opened the second quarter with goals to give Mercy an 11-2 lead with 8:12 left in the half. Hansen and Mott scored the final two goals of the half to give the Mavericks a commanding 13-2 lead at halftime.
Rippon scored the first two goals of the third quarter to make it 15-2 with 7:43 left in the quarter. A Newlin goal made it 15-3 after three quarters.
Rippon made it 16-3 with 12:22 remaining before Danielle Gephart made it 16-4. Corley gave the Mavericks a 17-4 lead after a Hansen assist with 6:42 left. Bernas scored the final Saints goal at the 4:40 mark to make it 17-5. Hostinsky scored Mercy's final goal following an assist from Zarou with three minutes left to put the Mavericks up 18-5. Mercy cruised the rest of the way to earn the 18-5 win.
Mercy held a 33-13 edge in shots, a 21-9 edge in ground balls and draw controls were tied at 13-13.
Head Coach Dawn Sachs and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday, April 26th when they play at Jefferson at 3 p.m.
