NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Powered by the game-winning goal from senior Andrea Mott (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place), off an assist from junior Juliana Talenti (Bethpage, N.Y./Bethpage), the No. 25 Mercy University Women's Lacrosse Team earned a 15-14 win at Southern Connecticut State University on Wednesday afternoon at Jess Dow Field.
The Mavericks (5-1) are off to their best start since 2021 when they also started 5-1 and hand the Owls (3-1) their first loss of the season.
After Southern Connecticut State opened the scoring, Mercy quickly responded with a goal from sophomore Kayden Meyer (Mastic, N.Y./William Floyd) at 12:28. Sophomore Ashlinn Kelly (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) followed, giving Mercy a 2-1 lead. Freshman Ava Franco (Coram, N.Y./Longwood) extended Mercy's lead to 3-1, assisted by Kelly. Southern Connecticut equalized with two consecutive goals, leveling the score at 3-3, then took the lead with two more goals, making it 5-3 with 3:19 left in the quarter. In the closing moments of the quarter, junior Riley Wallace (Islip, N.Y./Islip) scored for Mercy, reducing the deficit to 5-4 as the quarter ended.
The second quarter saw Mercy initially trailing but quickly shifting momentum with Meyer's goal at 13:02, cutting the Owls' lead to one, 6-5. Mott then scored with an assist from Talenti, tying the score at 6-6 with 10:40 left in the half. Kelly gave the Mavericks the lead with a goal assisted by Meyer, giving Mercy a 7-6 lead. Mercy took an 8-6 lead at the 4:55 mark with Talenti scoring, assisted by freshman Jessica Grzelaczyk (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford), before Southern Connecticut responded with two consecutive goals to tie the game again at 8-8 with 3:55 on the clock. Kelly's second goal of the quarter, assisted by Grzelaczyk, regained the lead for Mercy. The half concluded with Mercy leading 9-8, having outscored Southern Connecticut 5-3 in the quarter.
Southern Connecticut initiated the third quarter with momentum, securing two early goals through free position shots by Macy Vail and Abigail Nolan to take a 10-9 lead. Mercy responded with solid defensive plays, with freshman Emma Batter (Port Jefferson, N.Y./Port Jefferson) stepping in as goalie and making a crucial save against Nolan's shot. Wallace reversed the momentum by scoring a goal at 8:57, tying the game at 10-10. Shortly after, Grzelaczyk found the back of the net at 3:49, giving the Mavericks an 11-10 lead. Mercy headed into the fourth quarter with an 11-10 lead.
As the fourth quarter commenced, Southern Connecticut quickly took control with goals from Rebecca Sibley and Vail to take a 12-11 lead with 12:42 remaining. However, Mercy responded swiftly with Franco scoring at 11:18, tying the game at 12-12 after a Wallace assist. The teams exchanged goals, with Meyer finding the net for Mercy at 6:41 and Taryn Ugrin scoring for the Owls at 6:11 to make it 13-13. Mercy capitalized on a free position attempt as Kelly scored at the 5:01 mark, giving the Mavericks a 14-13 advantage. Anna Meserve scored at the 4:14 mark, tying the game for the fourth time in the quarter, 14-14. The Owls won the ensuing draw control, but senior Emily Marino (West Babylon, N.Y./West Babylon) came up with the caused turnover and ground ball to give Mercy possession. Mott found the back of the net with 1:28 left, off a Talenti assist, to give the Mavericks a 15-14 lead. Wallace won the ensuing draw, and Mercy ran out the clock to secure the road win.
Mercy was led by Kelly who had a game-high five points on four goals and an assist to go with three caused turnovers. Meyer added three goals and an assist and Wallace recorded two goals and an assist. Franco and Mott both recorded two goals and Grzelaczyk and Talenti both contributed a goal and two assists. Marino had a game-high four caused turnovers and five ground balls and senior Rita-Marie Masi (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Connetquot) added three caused turnovers and two ground balls. Senior Olivia LaMonica (Oak Ridge, N.J./Jefferson Township) made three saves in the first 32:26 of action. Batter made one save in the final 27:34 to earn her first collegiate win.
Vail and Nolan led Southern Connecticut with three goals. Caelan Connors made six saves to take the loss.
Southern Connecticut State held a 25-23 edge in shots and a 26-5 edge in draw controls. Mercy held a 17-15 edge in ground balls.
Head Coach Dawn Sachs and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, March 14th when they open ECC play at Roberts Wesleyan at 12 p.m.
