Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. – Powered by senior Hunter Isnardi (Hicksville, N.Y./Hicksville) setting a new NCAA Division II record for goals in a career, the Mercy College women's lacrosse team earned a 19-9 victory over Molloy College in an East Coast Conference (ECC) Women's Lacrosse Championship Semifinal matchup on Thursday afternoon at Mercy Field.
The Mavericks (14-4) have won six games in a row and advance to the Championship Game for the third straight year and will face LIU Post on Saturday, May 4th at 12 p.m. at NYIT. The Lions (12-7) see their season end with the loss.
Isnardi finished with a game-high nine points on eight goals and an assist. The senior now has 301 career goals, breaking the previous career mark in Division II of 299 set by Katelyn Martin of West Chester in 2006. Isnardi accomplishes the feat in just 75 games and recorded a game-high 14 draw controls. Sophomore Briana Corace (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) had four goals, an assist and four ground balls. Sophomore Casey Shimborske (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) and junior Katherine Sanchez (Freeport, N.Y./Freeport) finished with two goals and an assist and junior Brittani Sergio (Lake Grove, N.Y./Sachem North) had two goals and two assists. Freshman Micayla Brady (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) posted two assists, three caused turnovers and two ground balls. Freshman Juliana Keenan(Bethpage, N.Y./Plainedge) scored and senior Erin Dingman (Watertown, N.Y./Onondaga CC), junior Mary Mackie (Bellport, N.Y./Bellport) and freshman Kaitlyn Grzelaczyk (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) dished out an assist. Sophomore Emma Jacobsen (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) made four saves to pick up the win.
Molloy was led by Brianna Wilson who had four goals and Allie Long made seven saves to take the loss.
The Lions scored first on a Michaela Siegler goal to make it 1-0 at the 28:40 mark. Sanchez tied the game up at 1-1 just under a minute later and Isnardi gave the Mavericks their first lead at 2-1 with 27:01 remaining in the half.
Siegler tied the game up at 2-2 at the 24:44 mark, but Mercy answered with four straight goals to take a 6-2 lead with 20:43 remaining in the first half. Shimborske scored twice and Isnardi and Corace also scored to give the Mavericks a four-goal lead.
Molloy scored to make it 6-3, but Mercy rallied with three straight goals from Corace and Sanchez to make it 9-3 with 15:22 left before halftime. Siegler scored again at the 14:28 mark to bring the score to 9-4.
The Mavericks ended the half with six straight goals to take a 15-4 lead at halftime. Sergio scored the first goal of the run and Isnardi capped off the run with five straight goals, including the record-setting 300th goal of her career, to give Mercy a commanding lead at halftime.
Corace scored to open the second half, giving Mercy a 16-4 lead with 23:31 left to play. The Lions answered with two straight goals before Sergio netted another goal to make it 17-6 with 15:53 on the clock. Wilson added three more goals for Molloy, but it was not enough as Isnardi and Keenan also scored to help give the Mavericks the win.
Mercy held a 35-18 edge in shots and a 19-14 advantage in ground balls. Mercy also held a 19-9 edge in draw controls.
Head Coach Dawn Sachs and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, May 4th when they face LIU Post in the ECC Championship Game at NYIT at 12 p.m.
Provided by the Mercy Sports Information Department
