WORCESTER, Mass. – The University of New Haven women’s lacrosse team claimed the program’s first-ever Northeast-10 Conference Championship Saturday afternoon with a 22-7 victory over Assumption College. The Chargers conclude their season with a 14-3 overall record and a 9-1 NE-10 record, while the Greyhounds fall to 1-11 overall and 1-9 in conference play.
The Chargers trailed early in Saturday’s game. They gave up two early goals and fell down 2-0 after four innings. The Chargers answered with a 3-0 run, but two Greyhound scores put New Haven back in a 4-3 deficit. The Chargers, led by a Mallory Ferrandiz goal in the 13th minute, once again went of a 3-0 run and took a 6-4 lead. Assumption cut the lead back to one in the 17th minute when they connected on a free position shot.
The Chargers then took over the contest by scoring seven-straight and taking a 13-5 lead with more than five minute remaining in the opening half. The Greyhounds added one and the Chargers added two before halftime, which brought the score to 15-6.
Thirty-seven seconds into the second half the Greyhounds scored their final goal of the game. UNH then went on a 7-0 run to close the game and earn the program’s first-ever conference title.
Alexis Gabbe, Brigid Brady and Brianna Kenworthy each scored four goals for the Chargers. Gabbe added an assist to lead all players with five points. The Ferrandiz sisters, Ashley and Mallory, each scored two goals and handed out one assist, while Sarah Magnone added two as well.
Maureen Spellman, the reigning ECAC Defensive Player of the Week, tallied a game-high 11 saves and earned her 14th win in goal for the Chargers.
The Chargers, who also earned the top seed in the NE-10 Conference Championship Tournament with the win, have a bye in the quarterfinal round of the tournament on Tuesday. They will host the remaining four teams on Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3 for the semifinal and final rounds of the tournament in West Haven. Here’s a complete bracket:
Tuesday, April 28 – NE-10 Quarterfinals
#6 Franklin Pierce at #3 Southern New Hampshire
#5 Bentley at #4 Merrimack
(#1 New Haven and #2 Stonehill received Quarterfinal byes)
Saturday, May 2 – NE-10 Semifinals (Hosted by New Haven)
#5 Bentley/#4 Merrimack at #1 New Haven, 1:00 p.m.
#6 Franklin Pierce/#3 Southern New Hampshire vs. #2 Stonehill, 3:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 3 – NE-10 Finals (Hosted by New Haven)
Remaining two teams, 1:00 p.m.
