ORLANDO, Fla. – No. 17 University of New Haven women's lacrosse extended its win streak to four games, defeating the University of Bridgeport, 16-5, at Disney's Wide World of Sports on Saturday morning.
It was another strong offensive performance for New Haven as six different Chargers found the back of the net in the matinee game against the Purple Knights. Caroline Maher (Mansfield, Mass./Mansfield) and Mackenzie Reh (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue Medford) led the way, each scoring six points. Maher had two goals and four assists, while Reh had five goals and one assist. Kendra Nolan (Oak Ridge, N.J./Jefferson Township) and Emily Holland (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) both had a hat trick. Samantha Galler (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield) added two goals, while Marina Skelly (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Connequot) scored once. Julia Jette (Franklin, Mass./Franklin) contributed with three assists.
The Chargers won the draw control, 17-5. Reh collected a team-high eight, while Raven Linton (Lawrenceville, N.J./Notre Dame) had six and Nolan finished the game with two. Linton also had four caused turnovers and picked up two ground balls.
In goal Gianna Guerra (Stony Point, N.Y./North Rockland) had six saves as she earned her fourth win of the season. Erica Rinsky (North Caldwell, N.J./West Essex) came into the game with just over eight minutes left and had two saves on the day.
The Chargers opened with an 8-0 run. Maher got the scoring going, as she found the back of the net twice in under a minute to give the Chargers a 2-0 advantage. Holland would score her first of the game, from Maher. Galler added to the scoring with a goal of her own, followed by Reh's first of the game, which put the Chargers up 5-0.
Maher added another assist as Nolan found the back of the net for the first time in the game and Skelly contributed to the scoring with a goal of her own. Reh found the back of the net to extend the lead to 8-0. Bridgeport got on the board for the first time in the game, but the Chargers responded a minute later as Nolan scored once more. Reh would score twice in 21 seconds before halftime to send the Chargers to the break with an 11-1 lead.
New Haven did not waste any time coming out of halftime as Reh scored in the first 15 seconds of the second stanza. The Chargers and Purple Knights took turns scoring as Holland scored two more goals to complete her hat trick.
Jette connected with Galler, who scored her second goal of the game, and Nolan would add a hat trick of her own to cap the scoring for the Chargers. The Purple Knights closed out the game netting back-to-back goals, but New Haven had command of the game, playing the entire second half on running clock.
New Haven will return to the Northeast and resume conference play with a trip to Garden City, N.Y. on Wednesday, March 20 to take on No. 2 Adelphi. Opening draw against the Panthers is slated for 4:00 pm.
