DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Mar. 22, 2024) – Powered by 12 different Mavericks scoring, the No. 23 Mercy University women's lacrosse team earned a convincing 18-0 win over University of the District of Columbia in their ECC opener on Friday afternoon at Mercy Field.

The Mavericks (2-6, 1-0 ECC) snap a five-game losing streak with the win and win their ECC opener for the seventh straight season. Mercy improves to 9-0 all-time against the Firebirds (0-7, 0-1 ECC) and post a shutout against UDC for the second straight season and third time overall.

Mercy was led by junior Leena Moussa (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh) who had a game-high four points on three goals and one assist. Freshman Riley Wallace (Islip, N.Y./Islip) and graduate student Sydney Corley (Coram, N.Y./Newfield) each had two goals and an assist and junior Leah Hansen (Greenlawn, N.Y./Harborfields) had two goals. Junior Tatiana Moran (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) had two goals and junior Isabelle Palladino (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford) had a goal and three assists. Sophomore Andrea Mott (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place), freshman Juliana Talenti (Bethpage, N.Y./Bethpage) and senior Brooke Zarou (Garden City, N.Y./Long Island University) each had a goal and an assist. Senior Ryleigh Hostinsky (Point Pleasant Borough, N.J./Point Pleasant Borough), sophomore Rita-Marie Masi (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Connetquot) and freshman Madison Preston (Brookfield, Conn./Brookfield) also scored and senior Kelly Rosenfeld (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) had two assists. Graduate student Erin Shimborske (Farmingdale, N.Y./Adelphi University) had two assists and three ground balls. Shimborske recorded her 100th career ground ball and now has 102 for her career. She becomes the ninth Mavericks in program history to reach the mark. Junior Lindsey Shimborske (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) had two caused turnovers and a game-high nine draw controls. Shimborske recorded her 200th career draw control and now has 205 for her career. She becomes the third Maverick in program history to reach the mark. Senior Olivia Maute (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) made one save in the first quarter to earn the win. Sophomore Olivia LaMonica (Jefferson Township, N.J./Jefferson Township) made one save in the second quarter and freshman Olivia Bradley (Commack, N.Y./Commack) made two saves in the second half in her first collegiate appearance.

UDC was led by Natalia Perkins who made four saves in the first half to take the loss. Shannen Graham made five saves in the second half.

Moussa got the scoring started at the 13:02 mark of the first quarter on a woman-down goal to make it 1-0. Wallace, Moussa, Mott, and Zarou continued the scoring with four goals to make it 5-0 with 7:57 left in the quarter. Hansen, Palladino, and Moussa closed the quarter with goals to give Mercy an 8-0 lead after the first quarter.

Hansen, Preston and Masi opened the scoring in the second quarter to give the Mavericks an 11-0 lead at the 8:40 mark of the second quarter. Hostinsky scored the final goal of the quarter to give Mercy a commanding 12-0 lead at halftime.

Corley and Wallace found the back of the net to begin the third quarter, making it 14-0 with 4:30 left in the quarter. Corley netted the final goal of the period to put the Mavericks up, 15-0, after three quarters.

Talenti made it 16-0 at the 11:01 mark of the fourth quarter and Moran recorded the final two goals to give Mercy an 18-0 lead with 2:50 left. The Mavericks held the Firebirds scoreless and earned the 18-0 win.

Mercy held a 30-8 edge in shots, a 15-7 edge in ground balls and a 16-4 edge in draw controls.

Head Coach Dawn Sachs and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday, March 27th when they play at STAC at 3 p.m.