WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Saint Joseph's (Me.) (2-2, 1-0 GNAC) dominated Saint Joseph (Conn.) (1-3, 0-1 GNAC) with a shutout 16-0 victory in their first conference game of the season at USJ Lacrosse Field on Saturday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Monks wasted no time establishing control, building a 4-0 lead in the first quarter. Ella Highbarger (Kennebunk. ME) and Taylor Dumond (Minisink, N.Y.) powered the early offense, with Highbarger netting the first goal at the 11:06 mark off an assist from Celia Melanson (Waterford, ME). Saint Joseph (Conn.) struggled to generate offense, managing just two shots in the opening period.
Saint Joseph's (ME) intensified their dominance in the second quarter, adding six more goals to extend their lead to 10-0. The Monks showcased their offensive firepower with five different players scoring throughout the quarter, and Highbarger continued her stellar performance with three goals in the period.
The third quarter saw more of the same as Saint Joseph's (Me.) added four additional goals while continuing to stifle USJ's offense. Celia Melanson opened the scoring just 33 seconds into the half, and Dinah Wadleigh, Shauna Clark, and Highbarger each found the net to push the lead to 14-0.
The Monks capped off their impressive performance with two final goals in the fourth quarter, both coming from Taylor Dumond, including a man-up goal at the 5:17 mark with an assist from Dinah Wadleigh (Augusta, ME).
TEAM STATS:
Saint Joseph's (Me.) dominated in nearly every statistical category, outshooting USJ 38-6, winning the ground ball battle 28-14, and controlling 13 of 19 draw controls. The Monks' defense was impenetrable, forcing 32 turnovers while their offense efficiently converted on 42% of their shots. The Monks had seven different players record points, showcasing their offensive depth.
THE KEEPERS:
Saint Joseph's (ME) rotated through three goalkeepers. Morgan Wright (Chelmsford, MA) started and earned the win with one save in the first half, while Julia Price (Newbury, MA) and Alexis Eldridge (Effingham, NH) split time in the second half with Eldridge recording one save. For USJ, Colleen Stringer made five saves in the first half, while Ariel DiSanti stopped seven shots in the second half.
LEADERS – SAINT JOSEPH'S (ME):
LEADERS – SAINT JOSEPH (CONN.):
- Alana Picard led the defense with four ground balls and four caused turnovers
- Anna LeGault took a team-high two shots
- Paige Rieger and Alana Picard combined for five draw controls
NEXT!
The Monks return to action on Wednesday at USM at 6pm.
