WEST HAVEN, Conn. – The nationally ranked No. 6 University of New Haven women’s lacrosse team rolled to a 21-9 victory over No.
13 Saint Anselm College Saturday afternoon on Senior Day at Kayo Field. With the win in their regular season finale, the Chargers earned the fifth seed in the upcoming Northeast-10 Conference tournament and will travel to fourth seed Bentley University in the opening round on Wednesday, May 2.
New Haven improved to 13-4 overall and 8-4 in the Northeast-10 Conference with the win. The Hawks dropped to 8-8 overall and 6-6 in the NE-10 with the loss, conlcuding the 2012 season.
In their final game at Kayo Field, seniors Sarah Magnone (Yardley, Pa./Villa Joseph Marie), Alexis Gabbe (Malverne, N.Y./Malverne) and Ashley Ferrandiz (West Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) combined for 16 points to lead the Chargers to the victory. Gabbe dished out a career-high six assists and tied the UNH single-game assists record. Senior defenders Emily Buckley-Matura (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Kearney / St. Lawrence University ), Aubrey Duncan (Patchogue, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford) and Maureen Spellman (Trumbull, Conn./St. Joseph) held the nationally ranked Hawks to seven goals through the first 50 minutes of play. Prior to the game, the six graduating seniors were recognized for their dedication to the women’s lacrosse program over the last four seasons. See the video below for highlights of senior day. A photo gallery of senior day will be posted shortly.
Freshman Kathryn Campbell (Mansfield, Mass./Mansfield) opened scoring in Saturday’s game with her 26th goal fo the season at the 29:22 mark. Magnone then scored the Chargers second goal at the 25:35 mark. The Hawks were next to score at the 23:50 mark with a goal by Kaitlyn Stazinski. New Haven answered with three unanswered goals, including two goals assisted by Gabbe. Saint Anselm scored two of three and cut the Chargers lead to 6-3, but the Chargers once against answered. UNH scored five straight and 10 of the last 11 goals of the first half. Gabbed assisted on a goal by Nicole McKee (Wantagh, N.Y./MacArthur) with 6:55 left in the first half and tied the Chargers single-game record for assists. Marissa Fisher (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial) scored her 12th and 13th goals of the season in the final six minutes put the Chargers ahead 16-4 at halftime.
Saint Anselm opend the second half with the first goal, just over one minute into the half. New Haven improved its lead to 18-5 and then the team’s exchanged goals for the final 20 minutes of the second half. Fished added her third of the game with 4:53 left, while Daina Catanese (Franklin Square, N.Y./H. Frank Carey) netted her fourth of the season with 3:52 left in regulation. The Hawks scored the game’s final two goals inside of three minutes and the Chargers sealed a 21-9 victory.
Gabbe led all scorers with eight points off six assists and two goals. Magnone added four goals, while Ferrandiz contributed four goals off two goals and two assists. Campbell finished with five points off three goals and two assits, while Kristina Curry (East Meadow, N.Y./East Meadow), Natalie Lieberman (Manorville, N.Y./Eastport South Manor) and McKee each added two goals.
Spellman recorded the win and posted six saves. Sharon Strain (Armonk, N.Y./Byram Hills) also saw action in goal, recording one save in the final six minutes.
The Chargers led 28-22 in shots, while Saint Anselm won 16-of-31 draw controls. The Hawks held a slight edge in clear attempts, completing 9-of-11 attempts compared to 8-of-11 by UNH.
New Haven’s quarterfinal game against the Falcons will take place in Waltham, Mass. on Wednesday, May 2 at 7 p.m. Stay posted to www.NewHavenChargers.com for complete coverage of the NE-10 Championship tournament and the Chargers run for the 2012 championship.
