DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – Despite a game-high three goals and a team-high four caused turnovers from sophomore Ashlinn Kelly (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale), the No. 17 Mercy University Women's Lacrosse Team dropped a hard-fought 8-6 decision to No. 15 Pace University on Thursday afternoon in a LaCrosse Out Cancer Game at Mercy Field.
The Mavericks (9-2) see their five-game winning streak come to an end and fall to 0-4 all-time against the Setters (7-4).
The opening quarter began with Pace taking control early, as Jamie Petrullo scored the first goal just 29 seconds into play, assisted by Mackenzie Carita. Carita extended Pace's lead to 2-0 with a goal at 8:01, assisted by Lia Villari.
A Lisa Heffernan goal at 4:22 gave Pace a 3-0 lead. Junior Riley Wallace (Islip, N.Y./Islip) then capitalized on a free position attempt at 2:15, finding the back of the net to put Mercy on the scoreboard. The quarter closed with Mercy trailing 3-1.
Pace capitalized on a woman-up situation early in the second quarter, with Carita scoring off an assist from Annie Sheehan to make it 4-1. They followed with another woman-up goal by Heffernan, assisted by Carita, before Mercy answered with a free position goal by freshman Jessica Grzelaczyk (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) at the 6:07 mark to make it 5-2.
Pace responded with a free position goal by Maddie Schubert at 3:11, taking a 6-2 lead. The half concluded with Pace holding a 6-2 lead.
The third quarter began with Pace gaining an early edge as Schubert scored, assisted by Sheehan, extending the Setters' lead to 7-2 at 10:52. Mercy managed to capitalize on a woman-up situation with Kelly scoring, assisted by Grzelaczyk to make it 7-3 with 6:44 left in the quarter.
As the quarter progressed, Mercy's defense held strong with key turnovers, including one caused by senior Emily Marino (West Babylon, N.Y./West Babylon). Senior Olivia LaMonica's (Oak Ridge, N.J./Jefferson Township) save on a free position shot from Villari further reinforced the defense. The quarter ended with Pace up, 7-3.
Mercy opened the fourth quarter with a strong start as Kelly scored early, reducing the deficit to 7-4 with 14:05 left. Grzelaczyk, assisted by sophomore Kayden Meyer (Mastic, N.Y./William Floyd), quickly responded with another goal for Mercy, capitalizing on a turnover to make it 7-5 with 11:40 left. A Jamie Petrullo goal with 10:17 left gave the Setters an 8-5 lead.
As the game drew to a close, Kelly scored again at 4:54, making it 8-6. Both teams were held scoreless for the final 4:54 and Pace escaped with the 8-6 win.
Kelly led Mercy with a game-high three goals and a team-high four caused turnovers. Grzelaczyk had two goals, an assist and three caused turnovers and Wallace scored a goal. Meyer recorded an assist, three caused turnovers and three ground balls and Marino added two caused turnovers and two ground balls. Senior Rita-Marie Masi (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Connetquot) had two caused turnovers and LaMonica made nine saves with two caused turnovers and four ground balls to take the loss.
Pace was led by Mackenzie Carita who had a game-high four points on two goals and two assists. Sarah Scheidel had six ground balls and six caused turnovers and Camryn Smith made a game-high 11 saves to earn the win.
Mercy held a 27-21 edge in shots, a 22-21 edge in ground balls and draw controls were tied at 8-8.
Head Coach Dawn Sachs and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday, April 8th when they host Jefferson at 4 p.m.
