The women’s lacrosse team faced two tough NEC opponents this week, falling short in close games against the Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) Knights and Long Island University (LIU) Sharks.
In their matchup against Fairleigh Dickinson, the Chargers lost 11-8 after a difficult start. New Haven fell behind early, allowing five goals in the first quarter while only scoring once. The Chargers responded with improved offensive play, narrowing the deficit before halftime and keeping the game within reach.
Throughout the remainder of the game, New Haven showed consistent effort on both ends of the field. Attacker Helena Dunwoody led the Chargers with three goals, followed by attacker Caitlin Seleny with two of her own. Midfielder Summer Castiglione and attackers Taryn Murphy and Sophia Minnion each scored one goal. Despite matching Fairleigh Dickinson’s pace in the second half, the Chargers were unable to fully close the gap created in the opening quarter.
New Haven took 25 shots, 14 at goal, and went 1-for-5 in free-position shots. The Chargers had nine draw controls compared to FDU’s 11 and had 10 saves. As a team, New Haven committed 16 turnovers.
Three days later, New Haven returned home to face LIU in another conference matchup that remained close from start to finish. The Chargers ultimately fell 11-9. Unlike the earlier contest, New Haven maintained a steady presence throughout, trading goals and keeping the score tight across all four quarters.
The difference in the LIU game came down to execution in the final minutes.The Sharks scored three goals in the third quarter to secure the lead for the remainder of the match. Attacker Sophia Devaney and Dunwoody both put points up for New Haven in the final quarter, but it wasn’t enough to secure the comeback.
Dunwoody struck the back of the net three times again for the Chargers followed by two goals each from Seleny and Devaney. Midfielder Lucy Sahfer added another point for the Chargers along with Minnion. Seleny had two assists and in 60 minutes of play, the Chargers’ goalkeeper Ainsley Bourbeau had 11 saves.
Across both games, New Haven demonstrated resilience and the ability to compete at a high level within the conference. The team showed depth in scoring, adaptability during play and the capacity to respond after setbacks. However, small breakdowns in key moments, particularly early in games and late in close situations, ultimately influenced the outcomes.
New Haven now has an overall record of 2-7 and 1-3 in conference play. The Chargers will host the Le Moyne College Dolphins on Saturday for a conference game. Draw is at 1 p.m. at Kathy Zolad Field. For more information, visit NewHavenChargers.com.
