ROCHESTER, N.Y. (Apr. 26, 2024) – Despite a game-high-tying three goals from juniors Leena Moussa (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh) and Leah Hansen (Greenlawn, N.Y./Harborfields), the RV Mercy University women's lacrosse team dropped a hard-fought 12-11 decision at ECC foe RV Roberts Wesleyan University on Friday afternoon.
The Mavericks (7-9, 4-1 ECC) see their three-game winning streak come to an end, while the Redhawks (11-5, 6-0 ECC) win the ECC Regular Season Championship.
Mercy was led by Moussa and Hansen who both had a game-high-tying three goals. Sophomore Andrea Mott (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) had two goals and senior Kelly Rosenfeld (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) had a goal and an assist. Senior Brooke Zarou (Garden City, N.Y./Long Island University) had a goal and an assist and freshman Riley Wallace (Islip, N.Y./Islip) also scored. Graduate student Erin Shimborske (Farmingdale, N.Y./Adelphi University) had an assist and senior Christina Lopreato (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) had two caused turnovers and two ground balls. Senior Olivia Maute (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) made six saves in the first half and sophomore Olivia LaMonica (Jefferson Township, N.J./Jefferson Township) made three saves in the second half with seven goals allowed to take the loss.
Roberts Wesleyan was led by Emma Blumenstock who had a game-high eight points on a goal and seven assists. Shawna Lesmerises made a game-high seven saves to earn the win.
A Sophia Podszebka goal at the 9:10 mark of the first quarter gave Roberts Wesleyan a 1-0 lead. Mott evened the score at 1-1 with 8:36 on the clock and Moussa recorded back-to-back goals to give Mercy a 3-1 lead with 7:18 left in the quarter. An Annie Mulhall goal at the 6:13 mark cut the Mavericks lead to 3-2 at the end of the first quarter.
Mott and Hansen opened the second quarter with goals to give Mercy a 5-2 lead at the 10:26 mark. The Redhawks scored three straight goals to tie the game at 5-5 with 5:42 left in the half. A Rosenfeld free position goal with 18 seconds on the clock gave Mercy a 6-5 lead at halftime.
A Hansen woman-down goal at the 11:25 mark of the third quarter made it 7-5. A Lucy Rugaber woman-up goal later made it 7-6 before goals from Zarou and Wallace gave Mercy a 9-6 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
A Podszebka goal with 13:00 left made it 9-7. Moussa scored at the 10:48 mark to give the Mavericks a 10-7 lead. Roberts Wesleyan stormed back with four unanswered goals to take an 11-10 lead with 4:37 left. Hansen later tied the game at 11-11 on a free position goal with 2:36 remaining. Mercy won the ensuing the draw control, but a turnover gave the hosts possession with under two minutes to play. Blumenstock found Rugaber with 48 seconds left to put the Redhawks up, 12-11. Following a Mercy timeout, the Mavericks won the draw control, leading to another a timeout. After the timeout, Rugaber forced a Mavericks turnover giving Roberts Wesleyan the ball with under 20 seconds to play. Following a Roberts Wesleyan timeout, the hosts ran out the clock to earn the win.
Roberts Wesleyan held a 28-24 edge in shots, a 13-8 edge in ground balls and a 14-12 edge in draw controls.
Head Coach Dawn Sachs and the Mavericks resume action on Sunday, April 28th when they play at Daemen at 12 p.m.
