Women's Lacrosse Falls to Simmons on Senior Day Saturday

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) women's lacrosse team fought hard on Senior Day Saturday afternoon versus the Sharks of Simmons University (SIM), but dropped an 18-3 decision at the USJ Lacrosse Field in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) match. With the loss, the Blue Jays dip to 6-10 overall on the season and 4-8 in conference play, while Simmons improves to 14-2 overall and 11-1 in the league.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Simmons 18, Saint Joseph 3
Records: SIM 14-2 (11-1 GNAC), USJ 6-10 (4-8 GNAC)
Location: USJ Lacrosse Field | West Hartford, Conn.
Notes: Senior Day

Prior to Saturday's match, the USJ Department of Athletics, including Director of Athletics Amanda Devitt, recognized and honored the women's lacrosse senior class of 2022. Seniors Tiajah Rose (Hartford, Conn.), Maria Porth (West Hartford, Conn.), Jenna Banta (Montville, Conn.), Silvana Barcomb (Middletown, Conn.), Andrea Pezzullo (Ashaway, R.I.), Nina Lestrud (Torrington, Conn.), and Maeve Foley (Wethersfield, Conn.) were all honored in a pregame ceremony.

The game featured a battle between two of the top goal scorers in the GNAC this season. Junior Makenzie Dinger (Hingham, Mass.) provided the scoring for USJ with all three of the team's goals. Dinger now boasts what is currently a GNAC-best 80 goals this season and has 95 for her career, needing five in the season finale Wednesday at Albertus Magnus to reach the almighty 100-goal mark for her career. Graduate senior midfielder Abby Stoller (Wayland, Mass.) meanwhile, who has been battling with Dinger for the top goal scorer title in the conference all season long, had a game-high five goals herself to make it 74 on the season, which is currently second-most in the league.

Simmons controlled play in this one though throughout the majority of the contest, never trailing en route to the triumph. The Sharks deposited at least three goals in each of the four periods on their way to a dominant performance, and at one point scored 10 unanswered goals, many of which stemmed from their 20-5 edge in draw controls. The visitors also posted a substantial, 41-25, advantage in ground balls over the Blue Jays.

COACH QUOTE [Karen Nell]
"Simmons is clearly one of the two best teams in the conference. Not winning draw controls made it really hard for us today. Our defense played very scrappy, our goalkeepers did a nice job, and our seniors all got a lot of minutes. We are really proud of them. We just need to flush this and focus on Albertus Magnus on Tuesday."

GOALIE BREAKDOWN

SIM – Senior Nicole Elliott (Wayne, N.J.) was in control in this one, picked up the win (14-2), and allowed just a pair of goals in three quarters of work between the pipes for the Sharks. Senior Erin McIntyre (Cumberland, R.I.) also saw time for the visitors, allowed one goal, and made two saves in 15 minutes of action.

USJ – Lestrud took the loss to dip to 6-10 on the season. She made nine saves in a 48-minute performance and surrendered 16 goals. Barcomb came on in relief, allowed two goals, and made three impressive saves in just over 11 minutes of work.

UP NEXT
The Blue Jays prepare for their final match of the 2022 regular season; an intrastate battle with the Falcons of Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Conn. The action takes place on Tuesday, April 26 at 6:00 p.m. on Celentano Field. Fans can head to www.usjbluejays.com to follow all the action live from start to finish.

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