WLAX Drops GNAC Road Contest To Colby-Sawyer Saturday

NEW LONDON, N.H. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) women's lacrosse team took a 16-10 setback on the road Saturday afternoon to the undefeated Chargers of Colby-Sawyer College (CSC), in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) contest at the Sally Shaw Veitch Track & Field.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Saint Joseph 10, Colby-Sawyer 16
Records: USJ 3-6 (1-4 GNAC), CSC 6-0 (4-0 GNAC)
Location: Sally Shaw Veitch Track & Field | New London, N.H.

Senior midfielder Jenna Banta (Montville, Conn.) and junior attack Cayleen DeFaranos (Northford, Conn.) had four goals each to lead USJ. Junior attack Makenzie Dinger (Hingham, Mass.) added one goal, just her second non multi-goal game of the season. Dinger and Banta have combined to score 77 of the Blue Jays 110 goals this season (70%). A pair of Chargers added four goals each as well: freshman midfielder Heather Hanson (Marstons Mills, Mass.), and junior attack Sydney Stevens (Laconia, N.H.).

Both teams split the first and third periods, totaling five goals each, but the second and fourth stanzas were where the Chargers put some distance on the Blue Jays, outscoring the visitors, 11-5. Colby-Sawyer scored consecutive goals in the final minute of the first half to seize the momentum, taking a 7-5 halftime lead. USJ made its run and cut it to one, 9-8 on a goal from Defaranos (assisted by Banta). It was not enough though to contain the hard-hitting Chargers, who scored seven of the last nine goals to take the victory. Banta scored twice in the fourth quarter to stem the tide, but it wasn't enough.

COACH QUOTE [Karen Nell]
"Our defense played tough and disruptive with multiple stops and forced turnovers on the day. Nina Lestrud had her best performance in goal with 21 saves. We played another undefeated team, and extremely tough team. It was quite the challenge and I am very proud of our effort."

NUMBER TO KNOW

21 – It marked a career-high 21 saves for senior goalkeeper and captain Nina Lestrud (Torrington, Conn.), who left it all out on the field for the Blue Jays. Her 78 saves are currently second in the GNAC.

GOALIE BREAKDOWN

USJ – Lestrud moved to 3-6 on the season with 21 saves and 16 goals allowed in a full 60 minutes of action.

CSC – Freshman goalie AJ Paton (Exeter, N.H.) moved to 6-0 with an eight-save, 60 minute performance. She allowed 10 goals in total.

UP NEXT
The Blue Jays are headed home for a match on Tuesday, March 29 at 6:00 p.m. in another GNAC matchup, this time against the Bulldogs of Dean College. USJ is seeking its second home win of 2022.

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