Rivalry games are always ones that are circled on the schedule. Teams prepare during the off-season and in practice to come away with a huge win in such an important game. Some teams are able to rise to the occasion and shut down the opponent’s game plan, while others walk off the field watching their rival celebrate a win in the midst of a playoff push.

Winning streaks late in the season are always an encouraging sign of good things to come, especially when it comes during a crucial part of the schedule that could make or break a team’s playoff hopes. Thursday night marked the third consecutive win for the New Haven lacrosse team as they came away with a 19-12 win over crosstown rival Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU).

With just five games remaining in the regular season, New Haven is currently ranked sixth in the Northeast-10 (NE-10) standings with every game potentially deciding seeding going into the playoffs. The Chargers turned in another great offensive performance, headlined by attacker Raegan Bailey’s 100th career goal and a dominant first half that brought them to another big win at home.

New Haven took control of the game from the start as attacker Annie Acquavita opened the scoring with the first of her two goals on a free-position shot. Attacker Savannah Ernst added her first goal of the game just a minute later to make it a two-goal game early, turning in one of her best games of the season with four goals.

SCSU had no answer early on, as the Chargers scored six consecutive goals to open the game and took a commanding lead. Attacker Bayleigh Takacs notched SCSU’s only goal of the first quarter with 6:41 left, but the early struggles continued as they could not maintain possession and generate more scoring opportunities.

New Haven closed out the first quarter with a comfortable 9-1 lead, capped off by a goal from attacker Marielle Colalillo with just 30 seconds remaining.
SCSU made it a six-point game after a pair of goals opened the second quarter, but New Haven answered right back for their 10th goal of the game as Bailey netted her second of five scores.

Just 26 seconds later, Bailey tacked on her third goal to complete the hat trick and made it an eight-point game. Attacker Cameryn Antler stretched the lead to 10 with four minutes remaining in the first half and after two goals from SCSU to cut into the lead, attacker Caitlin Seleny finished off the Chargers’ dominant start with a goal in the final minute of play, taking a 14-5 lead going into the break.

SCSU cut into the lead early in the second half with goals from midfielder Brianna Shaw and attacker Savannah Feinberg, but could not bring themselves any closer as New Haven’s red-hot offense continued to thrive, going back ahead by 10 as Bailey scored her fourth goal of the game with 3:09 left in a man-down situation.

Bailey added her fifth in the fourth quarter for the Chargers’ final score of the game in another man-down situation to cap off her historic night and help deliver New Haven a big win against their crosstown rival.

SCSU scored three goals late in the fourth, but it was not enough to come back from their early deficit. The win moved New Haven to 7-6 in NE-10 play with another huge game on the horizon against Southern New Hampshire University on Sunday. The two teams are tied for sixth in the conference, making for a crucial game that could play a huge role in conference seeding.

The game is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. as the Chargers look to continue their win streak and make a run at a conference title. More information can be found at newhavenchargers.com.