Sparkill, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Women's Lacrosse team closed out the home portion of its 2023 schedule, falling to Daemen University, 16-8 on Saturday at Spartan Field. 

STAC falls to 1-12 overall and and 0-5 in the ECC, while Daemen improves to 7-7 and 2-2 in their inaugural season.

Sophomore Kaitlyn Cerrato led the Spartans' offense with two goals and two assists, while junior Hailey Galison (2 goals), freshman Arianna Tribble (2 goals), junior McKenzie Schlechtweg (1 goal, 1 assist) and sophomore Laura Hazelton (1 goal) also contributed to the maroon and gold offense on the day. Meanwhile, Daemen was led by Casey Decatur, who tallied five goals and three helpers.

Prior to the contest, between the Spartans and Wildcats, STAC honored its graduating senior class; Hailey Galison, Samantha Cerrato, Flaminia Maria Valci and Colleen Stevens with on-field ceremonies, which included the athletes' parents, families, teammates, coaches and college administrators.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Daemen opened the first quarter scoring with three straight goals, as Casey Decatur, Dana Bacher and Camryn Day to lead 3-0, 7:01 into the game.
• Back-to-back tallies by Hailey Galison and Arianna Tribble put the Spartans on the scoreboard and cut the deficit to just one at 3-2.
• The visiting Wildcats closed the frame with a trifecta of goals. Caseu Decatur picked up her second and third goals of the day, while Dana Bacher scored her second to put Daemen ahead 6-2 through 15 minutes of action.
• In second quarter action, the teams traded two goals apiece, with Camryn Day and Casey Decatur beating Spartans' goalie Colleen Stevens and Katelyn Cerrato putting two behind Wildcats' netminder Blair Pfohl to make it an 8-4 Daemen advantage at halftime.
• Once the teams returned to the field for third quarter play, Dana Bacher immediately picked up her second goal to put the Wildcats up 9-4.
• Arianna Tribble answered moments later with her second of the day to cut the score to 9-5.
• Daemen's Casey Decatur and Avery Castner picked up back-to-back goals midway through the frame to expand the Daemen lead to 11-5.
• Goals by McKenzie Schlechtweg and Hailey Galison closed the scoring in the third quarter to make it 11-7.
• The final quarter saw Daemen strike five times for goals, as Camryn Day (2), Dana Bacher, Kylie Miranto and Ella Bouley each found the back of the cage.
• Meanwhile, Laura Hazelton earned her second goal of the season for the Spartans.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• STAC tallied 16 shots on goal, with Katelyn Cerrato registering a game-high seven.
• McKenzie Schlechtweg and Samantha Cerrato scooped up four ground balls apiece.
• Arianna Tribble led St. Thomas Aquinas with six draw controls.
• Colleen Stevens (L, 1-12) stopped 11 of 27 shots faced in the cage for the Spartans.

UP NEXT:

STAC closes its 2023 season on Saturday, April 29 (2:00 p.m.) at the University of the District of Columbia.