DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Feb. 28, 2024) – Powered by a combined 13 goals from juniors Leah Hansen (Greenlawn, N.Y./Harborfields) and Leena Moussa (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh), the No. 16 Mercy University women's lacrosse team overcame a four-goal second-half deficit to earn a 13-12 win over No. 14 University of New Haven on Wednesday afternoon at Mercy Field.
The Mavericks (1-1) defeat the Chargers (0-1) for the first time since 2019. Mercy wins their home opener for the first time since 2022.
Mercy was led by Hansen who had a game-high and career-high seven goals and by Moussa who had a career-high-tying six goals. Junior Lindsey Shimborske (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) had a game-high five caused turnovers with four ground balls and three draw controls. Shimborske recorded her 100th career caused turnover and now has 103 for her career. She becomes the fifth Maverick in program history to record 100 career caused turnovers. Sophomore Maeghan Callow (North Massapequa, N.Y./Plainedge) had a game-high five draw controls and senior Olivia Maute (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) made seven saves in the first half. Sophomore Olivia LaMonica (Jefferson Township, N.J./Jefferson Township) made three saves in the second half to earn the win.
New Haven was led by Katie Schenk who had a team-high four points on two goals and two assists. Gabby Buscemi made a game-high 11 saves to take the loss.
Cameryn Antler gave the Chargers a 1-0 lead at the 13:46 mark of the first quarter. Hansen scored to tie the game at 1-1 and Moussa recorded back-to-back goals to give Mercy a 3-1 lead with 9:29 left in the opening quarter. New Haven scored the final two goals of the quarter to send the teams into the second quarter tied at 3-3.
Hansen gave the Mavericks the lead back at 4-3 less than a minute into the second quarter. New Haven scored three unanswered goals to take a 6-4 lead with 7:43 remaining in the half. Hansen made it 6-5 before Caitlin Seleny found the back of the net to make it 7-5 at the 5:12 mark. Hansen scored again to cut the Chargers' lead to one, 7-6. New Haven tallied the last two goals of the quarter to take a 9-6 lead at halftime.
New Haven opened the scoring in the third quarter to take a 10-6 lead. Hansen followed with a goal to make it 10-7 before Cypress Levitt scored to give the Chargers a four-goal lead, 11-7, with 10:53 remaining in the quarter. Moussa quickly answered with a goal for Mercy to make it 11-8 and Hansen netted the final goal of the quarter at the 8:16 mark to send the Mavericks into the fourth quarter down two, 11-9.
Two straight goals from Hansen and Moussa to open the fourth quarter tied the game at 11-11 with 7:11 left. With momentum on their side, the Mavericks took the lead for good at the 5:43 mark when Moussa scored her fifth goal of the game to make it 12-11. Following a New Haven timeout, Moussa tacked on an insurance goal with 4:44 remaining to give the Mavericks a 13-11 lead. The Chargers scored with 36 seconds left after an Antler goal to make it 13-12. The Mercy defense held New Haven scoreless from the 10:53 mark of the third quarter until there was 36 seconds left in the fourth quarter. The Chargers won the ensuing draw control, but the Mavericks defense held its own and earned the 13-12 come-from-behind win in their home opener.
Mercy held a 32-30 edge in shots, a 17-15 edge in ground balls and New Haven held a 14-13 edge in draw controls.
Head Coach Dawn Sachs and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, March 2nd when they host Bentley at 11 a.m.
