Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. – Powered by nine Mavericks scoring, the No. 1 seeded Mercy College women's lacrosse team earned a 19-5 win over No. 4 seeded D'Youville University in an East Coast Conference (ECC) Women's Lacrosse Championship Semifinal on Thursday afternoon at Mercy Field.
The Mavericks (12-6) have won six games in a row and advance to the final for the sixth straight season. The Saints (8-10) see their season end in the semifinals for the second straight season. Mercy advances to Sunday's final where they will face No. 2 seed Roberts Wesleyan at 12 p.m. at Mercy Field.
Freshman Andrea Mott (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) had a game-high-tying five points on three goals and two assists with two caused turnovers and graduate student Emma Rippon (Putnam Valley, N.Y./Iona University) had a game-high four goals with a game-high-tying eight draw controls. Graduate student Jaclyn Grzelaczyk (Seaford, N.Y./New York Tech) had two goals and three assists and junior Kelly Rosenfeld (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) had a goal and three assists. Graduate student Kaitlyn Grzelaczyk (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) had three goals and graduate student Erin Shimborske (Farmingdale, N.Y./Adelphi University) had two goals and a game-high four caused turnovers. Sophomore Leah Hansen (Greenlawn, N.Y./Harborfields) had two goals and an assist and freshman Maeghan Callow (North Massapequa, N.Y./Plainedge) had a goal and an assist. Sophomore Leena Moussa (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh) also scored and sophomore Lindsey Shimborske (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) had five ground balls, eight draw controls and three caused turnovers. Graduate student Micayla Brady (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) had three caused turnovers and three ground balls and junior Olivia Maute (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) played 25:32 minutes in goal. Freshman Olivia LaMonica (Jefferson Township, N.J./Jefferson Township) played 34:28 minutes in goal with four saves to earn the win.
D'Youville was led by Sydney Gordon who had a team-high two goals. Brinn Stworzydlak made a game-high 15 saves to take the loss.
The game remained scoreless until the 10:20 mark when Rosenfeld found Mott who finished to make it 1-0. The Saints scored back-to-back goals to take a 2-1 lead with four minutes left in the opening quarter. Kaitlyn Grzelaczyk and Rippon closed the quarter with goals to give Mercy a 3-2 lead after the first quarter.
Moussa and Mott both scored in the first two minutes of the second quarter to give Mercy a 5-2 lead. The Saints followed with back-to-back goals to cut the Mavericks lead to 5-4 with 7:54 left in the half. Mercy regrouped and closed the quarter with six straight goals to take an 11-4 lead at halftime. Callow got the run started and Erin Shimborske scored to make it 7-4. Hansen netted back-to-back goals to give Mercy a 9-4 lead and Mott and Jaclyn Grzelaczyk closed the scoring in the quarter.
Rippon made it 12-4 at the 11:20 mark of the third quarter. Jaclyn Grzelaczyk, Kaitlyn Grzelaczyk and Rippon capped off the period with goals to give Mercy a 15-4 lead after three quarters.
Erin Shimborske found the back of the net for the second time at the 12:50 mark of the fourth quarter to make it 16-4. Madison Buck scored with 10:32 remaining to make it 16-5, ending Mercy's 11-0 run from the second quarter. Kaitlyn Grzelaczyk, Rosenfeld and Rippon finished off the scoring for the Mavericks as Mercy cruised to the 19-5 win.
Mercy held a 52-12 edge in shots, a 27-13 edge in ground balls and a 19-7 edge in draw controls.
Head Coach Dawn Sachs and the Mavericks resume action on Sunday when they host No. 2 seed Roberts Wesleyan in the ECC Final at 12 p.m.
Provided by the Mercy Sports Information Department.
