DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Mar. 2, 2024) – Despite a team-high three goals from juniors Leena Moussa (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh) and Leah Hansen (Greenlawn, N.Y./Harborfields), the No. 16 Mercy University women's lacrosse team dropped a 16-9 decision to No. 18 Bentley University on Saturday afternoon at Mercy Field.
The Mavericks (1-2) fall to the Falcons (1-0) for the first time since 2019.
Mercy was led by Moussa and Hansen who each had a team-high three goals. Sophomore Maeghan Callow (North Massapequa, N.Y./Plainedge) had a goal and an assist and sophomore Andrea Mott (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) and senior Brooke Zarou (Garden City, N.Y/Long Island University) also scored. Senior Kelly Rosenfeld (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) had a team-high two assists and junior Lindsey Shimborske (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) had six ground balls and three caused turnovers. Senior Christina Lopreato (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) had four caused turnovers and two draw controls. Lopreato recorded her 100th career draw control and now has 101 for her career. She becomes the seventh Maverick in program history to record 100 career draw controls. Senior Olivia Maute (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) played the first half in goal and made four saves to take the loss. Sophomore Olivia LaMonica (Jefferson Township, N.J./Jefferson Township) made three saves in the second half.
Bentley was led by Amanda Davis who had a game-high six goals. Ashlee Wargo made a game-high 11 saves to earn the win.
The Falcons scored the first five goals of the game to take a 5-0 lead with 10:45 left in the first quarter. Back-to-back goals from Mott and Hansen made it 5-2 at the 6:03 mark and Mercy headed into the second quarter down, 5-2.
Moussa scored the first goal of the second quarter to cut Bentley's lead to two, 5-3, with 12:30 left in the half. The Falcons rallied with three straight goals to increase their lead to five, 8-3, with 8:15 remaining in the quarter. A Hansen goal at the 6:03 mark was the final goal of the quarter and cut Bentley's lead to four, 8-4, at halftime.
Davis gave the Falcons a 9-4 lead with 13:09 remaining in the third quarter before a goal from Moussa made it 9-5 at the 11:11 mark. Bentley netted two straight goals to take an 11-5 lead before Callow answered with a goal to make it 11-6 with 6:05 remaining in the quarter. Davis and Zarou traded goals to make it 12-7 before consecutive goals from the Falcons made it 14-7. A late Moussa goal made it 14-8 Bentley after three quarters.
The Falcons scored the first two goals of the fourth quarter to take their largest lead of the game, 16-8, with 10:07 left. Hansen netted her final goal of the day at the 2:50 mark to make it 16-9. However, Mercy could not score again, and Bentley earned the 16-9 road win.
Bentley held a 27-24 edge in shots, ground balls were tied at 19-19 and Bentley held a 23-5 edge in draw controls.
Head Coach Dawn Sachs and the Mavericks resume action on Thursday, March 7th when they host Tampa at 2 p.m.
