KINGS POINT, N.Y. - The Purchase College women's lacrosse team was defeated by the United States Merchant Marine Academy in a Skyline Conference battle Tuesday evening by the score of 13-4.
With the result, the Panthers dropped to 0-5 overall and in conference play. Meanwhile, USMMA improved to 2-3 in both categories.
Despite the final result favoring the hosts, the contest remained tight throughout the first half until the guests started to pull away late.
To begin, it was USMMA that scored the opening two goals, before senior
Gabby Castles (Bethpage, NY) found the back of the net off a feed from
Maddy Mecca (SR/Oceanside, NY) just three and half minutes in.
The hosts then added a third strike minutes later, only for
Michelle Gomez (SO/Oceanside, NY) to answer right back with a goal of her own. Gomez's goal was setup and assisted by
Madison Fetzer (SO/Happauge, NY) and cut the margin to 3-2 with 20:30 remaining in the half.
Over the next five minutes, the Mariners added two more tallies to push their margin to three goals, before Fetzer scored on a free-position attempt with seven minutes to go.
The two teams then played the rest of the half scoreless, as Purchase entered the halftime break down by the score of 5-3.
Once the second half began though, everything changed.
Over the next 30 minutes, Merchant Marine proceeded to outscore Purchase, 8-1, including holding the Panthers goal-less for the first 24 minutes of action. The lone Purchase goal of the second half came from Mecca on an unassisted effort.
On the night, Castles led the squad with a goal, a caused turnover and three draw controls, while
Camielle Debonis (FR/Danbury, CT) and Mecca each added three ground balls and a draw control.
In goal,
Casandra Schmoger (SO/Islip, NY) tallied 10 saves and a team-high four ground balls.
Up next for the Panthers is the team's season finale against Maritime College on April 23rd at 7 p.m. The team will also be celebrating its four seniors (Castles, Mecca
Victoria Bongiovanni and
Jade Porter-Fraser) for Senior Night before the game. You can follow along live right here.