BOX SCORE WEST HAVEN, Conn. - The nationally ranked No. 4 University of New Haven women's lacrosse team defeated visiting Southern New Hampshire University 17-12 in its senior day game Saturday afternoon at Kayo Field. Corinne Fisher (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial) and Maya Szymanski (Framingham, Mass./Framingham) led all UNH scorers with five points apiece.

With the win, the Chargers improve to 13-1 overall and 9-1 in the Northeast-10 Conference. Southern New Hampshire drops to 4-11 overall and 2-8 in conference action.

During a pregame ceremony, the women's lacrosse team honored its five graduating seniors, Rachael Whitman (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park), Melissa Gaetano (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa), Nicole McKee (Wantagh, N.Y./MacArthur), Marissa Fisher (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial) and Sharon Strain (Armonk, N.Y./Byram Hills) for their hardwork and dedication to the program throughout their collegiate careers.

Fisher scored a game-high four goals with one assist. She also led the team with five draw controls and a perfect 3-for-3 on free position attempts. Szymanski scored three goals and handed out two helpers. Kathryn Campbell (Mansfield, Mass./Mansfield) scored three times, recorded an assist, led the team with eight ground balls and caused three turnovers from the midfield. Courtney Ackland (Perth, Western Australia/Churchlands) also finished with four points off a goal and three assists. Fellow seniors, Nicole McKee (Wantagh, N.Y./MacArthur) and Marissa Fisher (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial) each finished with three goals on their senior day, while Brittany Ast (Glenwood, N.J./Vernon Township) and Meredith Michel (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) each tallied an assist.

Between the pipes, Sharon Strain (Armonk, N.Y./Byram Hills), Marissa McDermott (Longmeadow, Mass./Wilbraham & Monson Academy) and Alyssa Gianotti (Monkton, Md./Hereford) each played significant minutes. McDermott earned the win in nearly 40 minutes of action where she recorded eight saves and nine goals against. Gianotti finished the game with four goals and one goal against, while Strain started and recorded one save.

UNH outshot the Penmen 37-29 and held a 29-22 advantage in ground balls. SNHU held a 16-15 lead in draw controls, while turnovers were dead even at 18-18. New Haven converted 15-of-21 clear opportunities, while the Penmen went 10-for-17.

The Penmen, who controlled the draw for a large portion of the first half, jumped out to an early lead on the Chargers. Emily King and Lindsay Bucknam each scored two goals to put SNHU ahead 4-2 just over seven minutes into the opening period. Over the next seven minutes, New Haven gradually worked its way to even the score at 5-5 after a Corinne Fisher free position goal at 17:06. The Chargers then scored six of the final eight goals in the first half to hold an 11-7 lead at the midway point.

UNH opened the second half with three more unanswered goals to improve its lead to 14-7 with 24:22 left. The Penmen, assisted by an own goal at the 21:47 mark, responded by winning draw controls and going on a 4-2 run during a seven minute stretch halfway through the second half. With the Chargers' lead cut to five, 16-11, Szymanski scored her second straight goal with 13:07 left. The breakaway goal was assisted by Ast and New Haven went ahead 17-11. For over 12 minutes, the game was scoreless as both goalkeepers recorded a pair of saves. Southern New Hampshire was last to score with 1:11 left in regulation Ellie Morin pushed the score back within five points. As time expired, Gianotti recorded a pair of saves to hold on for the five-point victory.

New Haven concludes its regular season with three games next week. The Chargers first travel to American International Tuesday afternoon before hosting their final regular season game against nationally ranked LIU Post Thursday at 4 p.m. The regular season will come to a close on Saturday, April 26 at Saint Michael's.