Women's Lacrosse Unable to Overcome Slow Start
Mary Ninivaggi stifled the Knights with eight caused turnovers, five ground balls

Women's Lacrosse Unable to Overcome Slow Start

Women's Lacrosse - 4/11/2015 4:04:00 PM

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Scranton, PA - A slow start doomed Marywood University in a 13-8 loss to Neumann University Saturday in Colonial States Athletic Conference women's lacrosse action. The Knights scored the first seven goals of the game with six coming in the first 10 minutes. Despite outscoring their counterparts for the final 40 minutes, the Pacers were unable to dig themselves out of the hole en route to their first CSAC loss of the season.

Michelle Thompson came off the bench to lead the Pacers with a season-high three goals. Sam Bussinelli contributed three goals for her team-best 27th of the season. Stacy Griffing added a pair of goals.

Mary Ninivaggi's eight caused eight turnovers leapfrogged her into the No. 3 ranking for most in a season with her 34th of the season. She also moved into third all-time in the category with her 74 of her career. Ninivaggi also tallied five ground balls.

Teressa Izzo was called into relief goalkeeper duty and made eight saves in 44 minutes, 8 seconds. She also collected five ground balls.

Kelly Ciabattone corralled three of the Pacers' seven draw controls in addition to three ground balls.

Neumann came out in a dury with five goals scored in the first 4:01. Jordan Hopkins raced down the field to score the Knights' first goal 31 seconds into regulation. One minute later, Hopkins tacked on her second for a two-goal lead. Neumann added three in less than a minute, capped by an Amanda Fedak free position goal. Hopkins cinched her hat trick and put the Knights on top by a 7-0 score.

Just over 20 minutes into regulation, Marywood finally got into the scoreboard with a goal by Bussinelli via Amanda Khozouri. It stirred a three-goal run by the Pacers over a 5:30 span. Thompson found the net on an Erin Healy pass to trim the deficit to 7-3 during a woman-up scenario. After Alexa McIntyre came through with a FPS goal to end the Knights' 12-minute scoring drought, Thompson sent the game into the break trailing by four thanks to an FPS goal of her own with 14 seconds left.

Neumann seemed to stall the Pacers' newfound momentum swing with a pair of goals in the first four minutes of the second half from Rebecca Dolenti and Hopkins. Thompson struck on another free-position chance 5:05 into the frame. Two minutes later, Griffing one-timed a Grossjung pass and flipped her stick in exuberation, putting the Pacers in prime position trailing by four (10-6) with 22:39 left. Neumann quickly tacked on two more. Bussinelli's goal at 17:55 started a 14-minute scoreless streak that found the Pacers unable to inch themselves towards a comeback.

Neumann out-shot the acers by a 28-23 margin; however, Marywood held a distinct 24-18 ground balls advantage. The Knights dominated the draw controls (17-7) and allowed only two Pacer draws in the second half. Marywood finished with 13 caused turnovers, totaling just three in the second half.

The Knights' Hopkins used her speed and high-octane shot for five goals and nine draw controls. Gabby Curry took the win with 10 saves.

Marywood honored seniors Mary Ninivaggi, Stacy Griffing and Dana Grossjung at a pre-game ceremony.

Marywood hopes to get back on track in another key CSAC matchup Thursday at Immaculata University.



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