WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Graduate student Kendall Cietek (Guilderland, N.Y./Guilderland) finished with a game-high six points on four goals and two assists to lead the No. 12 University of New Haven women's lacrosse team (9-2, 7-2 NE10) to a 12-7 win over the visiting Saint Michael's Purple Knights.

Joining Cietek in leading the Chargers offense was senior Caitlin O'Brien (Branford, Conn./Branford) who also finished with a hat trick, closing out the day with three goals. Rounding out those with a multi-goal afternoon was sophomore Samantha Galler (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield) who finished with two. Three other Chargers, Nicole Belanger (Kinnelon, N.J./Kinnelon), Hailey Rattigan (Hicksville, N.Y./Holy Trinity) and Jessica Mazliah (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem North), all added one goal apiece.

Mazliah also added three assists on the afternoon to finish with four points while the two from Cietek completed the five total helpers for New Haven. The Blue and Gold finished out the day with a 28-20 lead in shots, 24-18 advantage in ground balls and finished ahead of Saint Michael's in draw controls with a slim, 11-10, lead.

Between the pipes, the Chargers split time between their freshman net minders, Gianna Guerra (Thiells, N.Y./North Rockland) and Erica Rinsky (North Caldwell, N.J./West Essex). Guerra earned the decision on the day, starting and playing the first 30 minutes. She closed out her day with a pair of saves and allowed four of the Purple Knights goals. Rinsky finished the second half with three goals allowed while making one stop.

SCORING

·         28:35 1st – UNH :: Kendall Cietek (Guilderland, N.Y./Guilderland) (1); Free Position

·         27:00 1st – STM :: Alex Vincent unassisted

·         25:09 1st – STM :: Kealy Moyna unassisted

·         22:20 1st – UNH:: Jessica Mazliah (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem North) (1) unassisted

·         21:46 1st – UNH :: Kendall Cietek (Guilderland, N.Y./Guilderland) (2) unassisted

·         19:45 1st – UNH :: Hailey Rattigan (Hicksville, N.Y./Holy Trinity) (1) from Jessica Mazliah (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem North) (1); Man-up

·         18:46 1st – STM :: Kealy Moyna from Ellie Clark

·         14:17 1st – STM :: Kealy Moyna from Alex Vincent

·         13:45 1st – UNH :: Kendall Cietek (Guilderland, N.Y./Guilderland) (3) unassisted

·         20:28 2nd – UNH :: Caitlin O'Brien (Branford, Conn./Branford) (1) from Kendall Cietek (Guilderland, N.Y./Guilderland) (1); Man-up

·         16:16 2nd – STM :: Paige MacKinnon; Free Position, Man-up

·         14:52 2nd – UNH :: Caitlin O'Brien (Branford, Conn./Branford) (2) from Kendall Cietek (Guilderland, N.Y./Guilderland) (2)

·         13:16 2nd – STM :: Kealy Moyna unassisted

·         12:49 2nd – UNH :: Kendall Cietek (Guilderland, N.Y./Guilderland) (4) unassisted

·         12:20 2nd – UNH :: Samantha Galler (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield) (1) from Jessica Mazliah (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem North) (2)

·         12:00 2nd – UNH :: Caitlin O'Brien (Branford, Conn./Branford) (3); Free Position

·         4:19 2nd – UNH :: Samantha Galler (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield) (2) from Jessica Mazliah (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem North) (3)

·         3:08 2nd – STM :: Paige MacKinnon from Kaelyn Oliver

·         0:06 2nd – UNH :: Nicole Belanger (Kinnelon, N.J./Kinnelon) unassisted

HIGHLIGHTS

·         New Haven got on the board first, scoring less than 90 seconds into the contest when Cietek converted her first shot on a free position attempt.

·         The Purple Knights responded by scoring the next two goals and taking their only lead of the afternoon at 2-1. The Chargers answered right back to those back-to-back scores by tallying three straight to regain the lead, one they wouldn't relinquish.

·         Jessica Mazliah (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem North) curled around from the back for her lone goal of the day, tying the game at two. Cietek would strike for her second just 34 seconds later to put New Haven back in front. Mazliah would then chip in her first helper on a man-up opportunity, dishing out to the rookie Rattigan. That trio of goals all came in less than a three minute span.  

·         Saint Michael's responded with back-to-back goals from Kealy Moyna that resulted in a 4-4 draw, which Cietek didn't let last for long as she broke that stalemate with her third of the day, second unassisted, with 13:45 remaining in the half.

·         That goal for Cietek would be the last tally of the first half and the only until nearly 10 minutes into the second period when Caitlin O'Brien (Branford, Conn./Branford) finally broke the ice with 20:28 remaining. Cietek would have a hand in that score for O'Brien, providing her with the assist.

·         Saint Michael's would answer that goal and had an answer for O'Brien's second goal which came just inside of the 15 minute mark, again off a feed from Cietek.

·         Following the Purple Knights answer to that goal, New Haven's offense kicked into gear and rattled off four straight goals to put the contest out of reach for Saint Michael's.

·         The first three of those goals all came within 49 seconds of each other. Cietek started the rally with her fourth of the day while Samantha Galler (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield) connected with Mazliah for two of the goals. Sandwiched between Galler's two scores was the third of the day for O'Brien as she completed the hat trick on a free position attempt.

·         Saint Michael's managed one more goal with just over four minutes remaining while the senior attack of Belanger struck for a final tally inside of 10 seconds remaining as she netted her 15th of the season.

NEXT ON TAP
The Chargers begin a three-game week on Tuesday evening when they travel to Pleasantville, N.Y. to take on the Pace Setters under the lights of Pace Stadium. Opening draw in the NE10 battle is slated for 7:00 p.m.