COLCHESTER, Vt. – The nationally ranked No. 6 University of New Haven women’s lacrosse team defeated Saint Michael’s College 17-
4 Sunday afternoon in a Northeast-10 Conference game in Vermont. The Chargers improved to 12-3 overall and 7-3 in conference play with the win, while the Purple Knights fell to 3-10 overall and 1-9 in the NE-10.
New Haven’s Ashley Ferrandiz (West Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) scored three goals and handed out six assists for a total of nine points in the win. With the points, Ferrandiz improved her season total to 80 points and crossed the 300-career point plateau. With 225 career points entering the season, Ferrandiz now boasts a career total of 305 points and becomes the first Charger to cross the 300-point mark. With seven more points this season, Ferrandiz will move into the top 15 in NCAA Division II Women’s Lacrosse scoring history.
The senior scored the Chargers’ first goal just over one minute into the first half. Kristina Curry (East Meadow, N.Y./East Meadow) improved New Haven’s lead to two points with her 27th goal of the season just over one minute later. The Purple Knights scored their first goal with 24:36 left in the first half and brought the score within one, 2-1. Alexis Gabbe (Malverne, N.Y./Malverne) then sparked a 4-0 run for UNH. The senior scored three of the four goals, while giving the Chargers a 6-1 lead. Saint Michael’s scored its second goal of the game with 17:02 left in the first half and brought the score within four, 6-2. Ferrandiz then scored her 300th career point when she sparked another three New Haven goals in the final 15 minutes of the first half. The Purple Knights chipped in one with 5:39 left for their third goal of the game. The Chargers led by six points at halftime, 9-3.
Natalie Lieberman (Manorville, N.Y./Eastport South Manor) scored her 28th goal of the season just 45-seconds into the second half and began a 4-0 run for UNH to open the second half. Nicole McKee (Wantagh, N.Y./MacArthur) gave UNH a 13-3 lead with 25:50 left in the second half with her 24th score of the season. The Purple Knights cut the lead back to nine points at the 23:11 mark, but McKee scored her second of the game two minutes later and pushed the lead back to 10 goals. The Chargers added three more goals in the final 20 minutes and sealed a 13-point victory, 17-4.
Ferrandiz added two ground balls and two draw controls to her nine-point performance. Gabbe contributed seven total points off four goals and three assists. Lieberman and McKee each chipped in with two goals and one assist in the win. Lieberman also grabbed five draw controls, two ground balls and one caused turnover. Emily Buckley-Matura (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Kearney / St. Lawrence University ) led the defense with four ground balls and two caused turnovers. Maureen Spellman (Trumbull, Conn./St. Joseph) earned the victory between the pipes with five saves and four goals against.
No. 6 New Haven will return to action on Tuesday, April 24 when it hosts No. 2 Adelphi University at Kayo Field. Game time in West Haven, Conn. is set for 4:30 p.m. For complete coverage of Tuesday’s game, stay posted to www.NewHavenChargers.com.
