Quinnipiac Routs CCSU in NEC Contest
from press release
HAMDEN, Conn. -- Four players scored
three or more goals to lift the Quinnipiac University women's
lacrosse team past Northeast Conference foe and in-state rival
Central Connecticut, 20-4, Sunday afternoon at the Quinnipiac Field
Hockey & Lacrosse Turf Field. Team captain Katie Latonick
(Severna Park, Md.) led the charge, scoring four goals and adding
four assists for a season-best eight points. The Bobcats are now
2-0 in NEC play this season and 2-4 overall. The Blue Devils drop
to 0-3 in league games and 2-4 overall with the loss.
"It's always great to get an NEC win," Head Coach Danie Caro said.
"It was great to see that when we gave some of the younger players
opportunities to play, there was no let down. The team played well
as a whole and this was a big win for us moving forward into league
play."
Central's Ryan Mackenzy started the game with two straight goals in
the first five and a half minutes. The 2-0 advantage would be the
only lead of the day as junior Laura Iannotti (Rocky Point, N.Y.)
scored three-straight goals in 1:20 of play to take the lead.
Iannotti's previous career high was two goals in a game, a mark she
eclipsed in less than a minute and a half against the Blue
Devils.
The Bobcats continued to pour on the offense, scoring five more
goals after Iannotti's hat trick. Sophomores Devon Gibney
(Hopkinton, Mass.) and Marissa Caroleo (North Babylon, N.Y.) each
added goals in the 8-0 run, while Latonick scored a free-position
tally and freshman Sarah Allen (Glastonbury, Conn.) netted two.
After two quick goals by the Blue Devils made it an 8-4 game, the
Bobcats offense continued its onslaught, while the defense stopped
everything. Quinnipiac held Central without a goal in final 39:40
of play.
Allen, Latonick, Gibney and junior Lauren Matuszczak (East
Longmeadow, Mass.) all scored again before the half to take a
nine-goal lead, 13-4 into the break.
Quinnipiac's younger players saw opportunities to contribute in the
second half. On the first shot of her college career, Mary Kate
Manganiello (Media, Pa.) scored her first goal, while fellow
freshman Jackie Keleher (Manlius, N.Y.) earned her first-career
point with an assist. Kayla Hamberry (Annapolis, Md.) picked up her
first point, assisting on a Kelly Bruneau (Cheshire, Conn.) goal
with 4:47 remaining. Keleher then scored her first goal with 2:15
showing on the clock. Sophomore Jane Moldovan (Shoreham, N.Y.)
earned just her second career assist on Keleher's first.
In the first start of her career, junior goalkeeper Lexi DeStefano
(Brookfield, Conn.) made three saves to earn the win. Central
Connecticut's Erin DeLancey stopped 12 shots, including 10 in the
first half in the loss.
Quinnipiac outshot CCSU, 37-9, in the game, holding the Blue Devils
to just two in the second half. The Bobcats also held a 32-15
advantage in ground balls, while Central committed 35 fouls to
Quinnipiac's eight.
The Bobcats return to action on Wednesday, Mar. 24 as they play
host to Iona. The Gaels and Bobcats are set to meet from Hamden at
3 p.m.
