WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Senior attack Jessica Mazliah (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem North) buried her 100th career goal at Kathy Zolad Stadium on Saturday, as the No. 20 University of New Haven women's lacrosse team (10-5, 7-4 NE10) earned its seventh NE10 win of the season and 10th overall against the Stonehill Skyhawks (6-8, 5-7 NE10).
Mazliah posted six total points, as she went on to score four goals in the contest while adding two assists. Junior midfielder Mackenzie Reh (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue Medford) had a career day, leading the Chargers with a career-high seven goals and assisted on one other for a team-high eight points. Sophomore attackers Caroline Maher (Mansfield, Mass./Mansfield) and Samantha Galler (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield) each finished with a hat trick, with Maher also contributing two assists for five points. Freshman Emily Holland (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) (2) and sophomore Kendra Nolan (Oak Ridge, N.J. /Jefferson Township ) (1) scored the final three goals.
Sophomore Gianna Guerra (Thiells, N.Y./North Rockland) played all 60 minutes in goal, securing her second-straight win while completing her sixth game of the season in double digit saves with 14-total. In addition, Guerra reached the 100-save plateau this season with her 11th save of the game.
Team stats were very even, with New Haven just barely edging out Stonehill on total shots, 33-32, and shots on goal, 29-27. Each team picked up an identical 31 ground balls, and New Haven won the draw control battle, 18-15. Sophomore Raven Linton (Lawrenceville, N.J./Notre Dame) pulled down a game-high nine draw controls, while Nolan and Reh grabbed five and four, respectively. Finally, New Haven was a perfect 15-15 on clear attempts.
Stonehill opened up the game scoring the first two goals, before New Haven responded with a 5-0 run to take a three-goal advantage with 15 minutes gone. Galler scored two goals during the stretch, sandwiched around Mazliah's 100th career goal which came as her first of the game. The two teams exchanged three goals each, before New Haven concluded the half with two-straight goals with just over one minute remaining to hold a 10-5 advantage at the break.
The Blue and Gold extended the lead to eight goals, as Maher, Mazliah and Reh each net unassisted goals to increase the lead to 13-5. Stonehill put home three of the next five with Reh scoring for the Chargers during the span, using a slick spin-move to fool her defender and beat the keeper, stick-side low.
New Haven put the game away with a 3-0 run to increase the lead to 18-8, instituting the running-clock rule for three and a half minutes. Stonehill then scored five of the game's last seven goals to pull back within seven, including a last-second goal by Linna Jalinskas, but New Haven celebrated the victory as Jalinskas goal crossed the line as the Chargers earned the 20-13 victory.
The Chargers return to action for their final road regular-season game of 2018, as New Haven will travel to Bentley for a 7:00 pm against the Falcons at the Bentley University turf field.
