Women's Lacrosse Drops Conference Opener To JWU Tuesday, 19-7

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) women's lacrosse team could not overcome a first-period deficit in a 19-7 setback to Johnson & Wales University (JWU), Tuesday evening in the team's Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opening match, held under the lights at the Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletic Complex.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Saint Joseph 7, Johnson & Wales 19
Records: USJ 2-3 (0-1 GNAC), JWU 4-2 (2-0 GNAC)
Location: Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletic Complex | Providence, R.I.

COACH QUOTE [Karen Nell] "The team worked really hard today. I am very proud of them. Everyone got a chance to get a piece of the action. We will use this as an opportunity to grow as players and as a team."

The Blue Jays were led once again by junior attack Makenzie Dinger (Hingham, Mass.) and senior midfielder Jenna Banta (Montville, Conn.), who combined to score all seven goals for Saint Joseph. Dinger, who scored four Tuesday, now has 24 goals on the season, second-best in the GNAC only to Abby Stoller of Simmons with 29. Dinger's 25 points is good for third in the conference. Banta meanwhile netted the other three for USJ and is fourth in the GNAC with 17 goals in 2022. Dinger and Banta have combined to score 41 of the Blue Jays 54 goals this season (76%).

It was a tall task for the visitors as they went head-to-head with the defending GNAC Champions. JWU opened the scoring by netting the first five goals of the game through five different goal scorers.  The Blue Jays scored two in the first frame (both from Dinger), but JWU's offense scored three in the final minute of the period to take a 10-2 lead after one. Junior midfielder Margaret Johnson (Bear, Del.), sophomore middie Maris DiBeneditto (Southbury, Conn.), sophomore midfielder Zoe Savage (Warrenton, Va.), and freshman attack Madeleine Gould (Oakdale, Conn.) all scored two goals in the opening period for the hosts.

Over the next two periods, the Wildcats built a 16-goal advantage at 19-3.  The Blue Jays scored four unanswered in the fourth quarter, but the Wildcats were well-out in front and took a 19-7 victory. The Blue Jays fought hard to get that advantage back after a tough first period, and were only outscored by four, 9-5 in the final three periods. Saint Joseph hast lost nine straight to Johnson & Wales (including playoffs).

NUMBER TO KNOW

12 – The Blue Jays had just 12 turnovers on the night, their fewest in a game since April 10, 2019, also against JWU (11 TO).

GOALIE BREAKDOWN

USJ – Senior captain and goalie Nina Lestrud (Torrington, Conn.) dipped to 2-3 on the season with 10 goals allowed and three saves in 15 minutes. Senior stopper Silvana Barcomb (Middletown, Conn.) saw 45 minutes of action in her second straight outing (nine goals, five saves).

JWU – Two goalies split time for the hosts; sophomore Emma Crowley (Leicester, Mass.) and freshman Emma Glyman (Tolland, Conn.). They allowed three and four goals in 30 minutes each. Crowley had five saves, while Glyman had four.

UP NEXT
Women's Lacrosse now prepares for its GNAC home opener with the Lasers of Lasell University on Thursday, March 17 at 1:00 p.m. back on the USJ Lacrosse Field. The Blue Jays last played Lasell in 2019, losing 21-8.

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