Lacrosse Defeats Albertus Magnus in Season Finale, 9-7

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The University of Saint Joseph women's lacrosse team closed out the season on a high note defeating the Albertus Magnus College Falcons, 9-7, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) match on Celentano Field Monday evening. Sophomore Charlotte Eberhardt (Thomaston, Conn.) netted four goals in the game, including three in the second half, to lift the Blue Jays to victory in the season finale.

THE BASICS

Score: University of Saint Joseph - 9, Albertus Magnus College - 7
Records: USJ (4-9, 1-9 GNAC), AMC (4-11, 0-10 GNAC)
Location: New Haven, Conn. – Celentano Field
Date: Monday, April 23, 2018

HOW IT HAPPENED

Albertus Magnus struck first with a goal by sophomore Kaitlin D'Agostino (Hamden, Conn.) off a feed from senior Alex Chan (Monroe, N.Y.) 46 seconds into the match to jump out to an early 1-0 lead. However, the Blue Jays and senior Hannah Lemek (Bristol, Conn.) would answer in a big way. Lemek rattled off three straight goals to build a 3-1 USJ advantage which they wouldn't relinquish for the remainder of the game.

Eberhardt then found the back of the net for her first goal of the game and fourth unanswered by the Blue Jays to make it 4-1 halfway through the opening period. An AMC goal trimmed their deficit to 4-2 before Lemek beat the Falcons' keeper for the fourth time of the match on a free position shot to put USJ up 5-2 with 10:33 left before halftime. It marked the team-leading 23rd goal of the season for the senior who finishes her career with 93 points on 72 goals and 21 assists.

The Falcons closed out the half strong with back-to-back goals, including the second of the game by D'Agostino, to bring the score within 5-4 heading into the intermission.

A free position goal by Eberhardt opened the scoring in the second half for the Blue Jays to push the lead to 6-4, but the Falcons would answer right back with a goal of their own to remain within striking distance, 6-5, with 20:08 left to play in regulation.

USJ converted on a key man-up opportunity minutes later and junior Annmarie Masayda (Watertown, Conn.) found the back of the cage with a free position shot to increase the Blue Jays' lead to 7-5. Eberhardt would then build the USJ lead to 8-5 with an unassisted goal with 11:39 left on the clock.

Albertus Magnus made things very interesting and scored back-to-back goals within a 13 second span to close the gap to 8-7 with just over nine minutes left to play, but the USJ defense along with senior net-minder Emily Bourassa (Bristol, Conn.) tightened up and kept the Falcons off the board for the remainder of the game. With 4:29 left in the game, Eberhardt tacked on a huge insurance goal, her fourth of the game, third of the second half, and 22nd of the season, to give USJ some breathing room and to account for the 9-7 final margin.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Eberhardt filled up the stat sheet for the Blue Jays in the win. In addition to her four-goal game, she also picked up a game-high seven ground balls, won two draw controls, and posted a game-high five caused turnovers.
• Lemek also posted a four-goal game to lead USJ offensively to go with three ground balls and three draw controls.
• Masayda scored a goal and Masayda and freshman Abigail Horner (Niantic, Conn.) each also finished with four ground balls.
• D'Agostino and sophomore Courtney Cacace (Brookfield, Conn.) each netted three goals apiece to lead the way for the Falcons.
• Bourassa stopped seven of the 14 shots on goal she faced between the pipes for the Blue Jays and picked up the win to finish the season with a 4-9 record.
• AMC's junior keeper Lexie Fenn (Oakville, Conn.) also made seven saves for the Falcons.
• The Blue Jays held a slight, 23-22, advantage in total shots and a 16-14 edge in shots on goal.
• USJ converted on 4-of-7 free position shots compared to 1-of-6 for AMC.

UP NEXT

The victory concludes the 2018 season for the USJ women's lacrosse team.