Women's Lacrosse Secures First Win Of Season Sunday, 13-9

CASTLETON, Vt. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) women's lacrosse team put together a big finish to take down the Spartans of Castleton University (CU), 13-9, in a non-conference road match at Dave Wolk Stadium Sunday afternoon.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Saint Joseph 13, Castleton 9
Records: USJ (1-2), CU (0-2)
Location: Dave Wolk Stadium | Castleton, Vt.

The Blue Jays were led by a pair of sharpshooters Sunday; senior midfielder Jenna Banta (Montville, Conn.) and junior attack Makenzie Dinger (Hingham, Mass.), who scored five goals each in the victory. Dinger rallied the troops and scored three of her five goals in the final period, including the last two to seal the victory. Banta has now scored three-plus goals in three-straight games, the longest such streak of her career. Sophomore midfielder Kimberly McCarthy (West Sayville, N.Y.) led the way for the Spartans by netting four goals, including two in the second period. Junior attack Maddie Brasser (Westport, Conn.) added three goals for the hosts in the setback.

The game kicked off with shots coming from all sides. Seven first-period goals set the tone for what was to come down the stretch. USJ scored three-straight goals to build a 4-2 lead, but McCarthy nailed a shot towards the tail-end of the first quarter to make it 4-3 after the opening period. After a quiet second stanza, where there was only one goal and it was in favor of the Blue Jays, the visitors took a 5-3 lead into the halftime break. However, Castleton made a push and eventually tied the game at seven-all in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter. Saint Joseph put its heads down though and rallied to score three-straight goals and six of the last eight, backed by the stick work of Banta and Dinger, who silenced the Spartans on the road Sunday for the team's first win of the 2022 season.

COACH QUOTE [Karen Nell]
"The fourth period we started taking advantage of the opportunities the defense was giving us and showed how bad we wanted to win. Our defense played solid, denying opportunities in the final minutes. It was great to pick up that first win of the season."

NUMBER TO KNOW
3 – Make it three-straight games for Banta with at least three goals, a career-long streak for the senior, who recently eclipsed the 50-goal mark for her career.

GOALIE BREAKDOWN

USJ – Senior captain and goalie Nina Lestrud (Torrington, Conn.) secured the win (1-2) making four saves and allowing nine goals in a full 60 minutes of action.

CU – Senior goalkeeper Raven Payne (Cornwall, Vt.) was dealt the loss (0-2), going the distance and making 10 saves on 23 shots.

UP NEXT
USJ will be back in action next on Tuesday, March 8 in a home match against the Mariners of Mitchell College. The action kicks off at 6:00 p.m. on the USJ Lacrosse Field. The Blue Jays are 2-1 against Mitchell over the last 10 seasons, and are winners of the last two meetings.

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