Women's Lacrosse Falls at Home to Regis, 11-9, in GNAC Play Saturday

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) women's lacrosse team saw a two-game winning streak snap on Saturday afternoon, falling to Regis College, 11-9, in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play. Graduate student midfielder Ashley Rufo (Pittsfield, Mass.) paced the USJ offense on the day, scoring three goals while dishing out two assists. With the result, the Blue Jays drop to 4-2 overall and 0-2 in GNAC play, while the Pride move to 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the GNAC.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Regis 11, Saint Joseph 9
Records: Regis 3-1 (2-1 GNAC), USJ 4-2 (0-2 GNAC)
Location: USJ Lacrosse Field | West Hartford, Conn.

The game started out quiet as both the Pride and Blue Jays defenses kept the opposition from creating clear cut chances. Regis would strike first, taking the lead at the 3:08 mark. USJ quickly answered back though, as Rufo used a solo effort to tie the game at 1-1 with 2:23 left in the quarter. Regis would net again, taking a late 2-1 lead entering the second quarter.

The Pride carried the momentum into the second quarter, increasing the lead to 3-1 after a goal at the 14:28 mark. The Pride goal sparked a USJ comeback, as Rufo picked out a perfect pass to a wide-open senior attack Cayleen Defaranos (Northford, Conn.), who found the back of the net, cutting the gap to 3-2 with 9:21 left in the half. Junior attack Lauryn Wilks (Hartford, Conn.) leveled the game moments later, scoring from a woman-up free position opportunity, making the score 3-3 with 5:16 left in the half. However, the Pride would score late in the quarter, taking a 4-3 edge into the halftime break.

USJ continued to fight back at the start of the second half, as Rufo netted her second of the game, tying the score at 4-4 at the 10:05 mark. The score continued to flip-flop as Regis regained the lead, 5-4, at the 6:02 mark. The score looked to hold entering the fourth, but Wilks picked up a loose-ball rebound, before firing into the corner of the net with one second left, levelling the score at 5-5 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Blue Jays took full advantage of the momentum swing that ended the third, as sophomore midfielder Morgan Rhoades (Windsor, Conn.) received a great pass from Rufo before firing her shot into the net, giving USJ a 6-5 edge. Rufo followed up her assist with a great solo effort towards goal, guiding her shot past the Regis goalkeeper to increase the lead to 7-5 with 13:37 left to play. Regis would get a goal back moments later, but Wilks completed her hat-trick, reestablishing a two-goal edge, 8-6, at the 11:41 mark.

The Pride would not go down easy though, getting back within one, 8-7, after a woman-up scenario at the 11:17 mark. Regis appeared to have equalized the game at the 10:00 minute mark, but a goal was called off due to a Regis penalty for a dangerous propel. The Pride would eventually find the equalizer though and make it 8-8 at the 4:25 mark, before taking the lead, 9-8, with a free position goal at the 3:48 mark. The Pride would increase the gap to 10-8, but senior midfielder Makenzie Dinger (Hingham, Mass.) rushed towards the goal before firing a shot past the Regis goalkeeper, cutting the gap to 10-9 at the 1:49 mark. However, Regis would strike again inside the closing minute, icing the game and taking home an 11-9 victory.

GOALIE BREAKDOWN

REGIS – Daniela Mazo picked up the win in goal for Regis (3-1) tallying 13 saves while letting in nine goals.

USJ –Freshman Ariel DiSanti (Agawam, Mass.) played all 60 minutes in net for USJ, picking up the loss (2-1) after allowing 11 goals while making eight saves.

UP NEXT
The Blue Jays begin a two-game road trip, making a stop at Lasell University for GNAC play on Wednesday, March 22. First draw against the Lasers from Grellier Field in Newton, Mass., is set for 5:00 p.m.

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