DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Apr. 3, 2024) – Despite a career-high eight saves from sophomore Olivia LaMonica (Jefferson Township, N.J./Jefferson Township) and a game-high four goals from junior Leena Moussa (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh), the RV Mercy University women's lacrosse team dropped a hard-fought 12-11 double-overtime decision to defending National Champion No. 1 Pace University on Wednesday afternoon at Mercy Field.
The Mavericks (4-7) see their three-game winning streak come to an end, while the Setters (10-0) remain undefeated on the year. The one-goal game is the closest margin of victory for Pace this season.
Mercy was led by Moussa who had a game-high-tying five points on a game-high four goals with one assist. Sophomore Andrea Mott (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) also had a game-high-tying five points with three goals and two assists and junior Leah Hansen (Greenlawn, N.Y./Harborfields) had two goals. Graduate student Sydney Corley (Coram, N.Y./Newfield) and sophomore Maeghan Callow (North Massapequa, N.Y./Plainedge) also scored and senior Kelly Rosenfeld (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) dished out an assist. Junior Lindsey Shimborske (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) had a game-high six caused turnovers with four draw controls and senior Christina Lopreato (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) had a team-high five draw controls. Senior Olivia Maute (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) made four saves in the first half. LaMonica made a career-high eight saves in the second half and overtime to take the loss.
Pace was led by Angelina Porcello who had a game-high-tying five points on three goals and two assists with a game-high eight draw controls. Samantha Tanguay made a game-high 11 saves to earn the win.
The game remained scoreless until the 11:39 mark of the first quarter when Lindsay Radmann scored for Pace to make it 1-0. Moussa evened the game at 1-1 with a man-down goal with 10:19 left in the quarter. Back-to-back Pace goals made it 3-1 before Mott scored from Rosenfeld to get the Mavericks within one, 3-2, with 6:43 on the clock. Nikki Mottes and Porcello scored two goals in a row to make it 5-2 with 3:43 remaining in the quarter. A Mott goal later made it 5-3 before a Porcello goal to close the quarter gave Pace a 6-3 lead after one quarter.
A Mottes goal at the 12:25 mark of the second quarter gave the Setters their largest lead of the game, 7-3. Pace looked to be pulling away, but the Mavericks did not back down against the defending National Champions. Moussa found the back of the net again with 5:00 left in the half to make it 7-4 and Pace headed into halftime with a 7-4 lead.
LaMonica made a key save early in the third quarter to keep it 7-4. Moussa and Mott scored the first two goals of the quarter to make it 7-6 with 10:42 on the clock, leading to a Pace timeout. Following the timeout, Moussa, Corley, and Hansen scored three straight goals to give Mercy their first lead of the game, 9-7, with 7:43 remaining in the quarter. The Setters recorded the final three goals of the quarter to take a 10-9 lead after three quarters.
A Hansen goal from Mott at the 12:26 mark of the fourth quarter tied the game at 10-10. The game remained tied until the 3:46 mark when Callow scored a woman-up goal following an assist from Moussa to give Mercy an 11-10 lead. The Mavericks held an 11-10 lead in the final minute of play before Sydney Juvelier found the equalizer with 28 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 11-11. A last second shot by Moussa was stopped by Tanguay, forcing overtime.
LaMonica made a save early in the first overtime period on a Juvelier free position attempt and later stopped a Katie Long shot to keep the game tied. Hansen had a potential game-winning goal waved off at the 1:57 mark of the first overtime period due to an illegal stick. Neither team would score in the first overtime period so the teams headed into a second overtime period.
Pace won the opening draw of the second overtime period and Margaret Flocco scored, off an assist from Audrey Colucci, giving the Setters the 12-11 win 1:17 into the second overtime.
Pace held a 36-35 edge in shots, a 20-17 edge in ground balls and a 14-12 edge in draw controls.
Head Coach Dawn Sachs and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, April 6th when they play at No. 3 Adelphi at 2 p.m.
