Box Score HOBOKEN, N.J. -- Overcoming a slow start, Stevenson women's lacrosse knocked off previously unbeaten Stevens by a 13-11 count on Saturday afternoon.
Stevenson (4-4) used a pair of decisive four-goal runs to help the Mustangs separate for the victory, particularly in the third quarter. Senior Caroline Murphy moved into sole possession of ninth place on both the Stevenson all-time goals and points list with her seven-point afternoon, registering five goals and two assists. Kara Yarusso and Kaitlyn Kozlowski notched a pair of goals each, while Lan Le Crotty added one goal and handed out three assists. Sophie Shucosky helped quarterback an effective Stevenson clear throughout the day, making eight saves in the victory.
Meanwhile, Stevens (8-1) suffered its first loss of the 2022 campaign as Camryn Rogers paced the squad with four goals. Stevenson outscored the Ducks, 5-1, in the third quarter as the Mustangs mounted a 12-8 lead following two impressive transition markers to seize all the momentum before holding off a final push from the hosts.
Stevens opened the game in control, racing out to a 2-0 lead before a weather delay halted play at the 9:21 mark of the opening quarter. Out of the locker room, Stevenson responded with a pair of goals just 13 seconds apart to even the score at the 7:28 mark.
Murphy began the scoring for the Mustangs at 7:41 in the first before Kozlowski followed it up at 7:28. The Ducks answered back to double their lead at 4-2 with just under five minutes remaining in the first. From there, Stevenson had a four-goal run that spanned into the early moments of the second quarter.
Murphy struck again, finishing off a pass from McKenna Blick to kickstart the run. Mary Marc tied the score at four and Murphy netted the early hat trick with her goal at 3:06, probing in front and finishing off a feed from Crotty for her 20th goal of the campaign.
Kozlowski pulled the Mustangs ahead by two at 6-4, continuing the scoring surge. Stevens answered back with the next two goals as the back and forth scoring continued. Into the second half, Murphy moved into sole possession of ninth place on the Stevenson all-time career goals list with her fourth of the afternoon early in the third quarter for an 8-7 lead.
Stevens rang a shot off the post and later converted on a free-position with a bouncing shot from Camryn Rogers at 10:51 in the third. Shucosky nabbed a quality scoring chance on the ensuing possession for the Mustangs before Kara Yarusso raced down the right side off the clear with a bouncing tally from the right wing.
Kellyann Coccia had a free position shot and rebound chance stuffed by Stevens goalie Lauren Cunniff in a crucial sequence in the third quarter. The Mustangs stretched their lead to three goals off an accurate long clear from Shucosky to Murphy, who raced in off the left side before crossing to Yarusso for the goal at 3:40 for an 11-8 advantage.
The Mustangs extended its scoring run to four goals with another marker in transition, this time with Kirsten Foster leading the charge ahead before dumping off to an open Yarusso for a 12-8 edge.
Maddie Schmidt halted the Stevenson scoring run with the opening tally of the fourth quarter for the Ducks. After holding off Stevens during a penalty, the Ducks hit the post with just under eight minutes remaining as the Mustangs continued to lock down on the defensive end. Continuing to hold possession, Rogers notched her fourth of the day on an eight-meter chance, slicing the deficit to two at 12-10.
Emily Leiby cashed in on a free-position chance of her own as Stevens brought the deficit back to one goal as 12-11. Crotty rounded out the scoring at 13-11 while Shucosky came up with some big stops late as the Mustangs ran out the clock for the victory.
NEWS AND NOTES
- Stevenson takes the 3-2 lead in the all-time series after the teams split the initial four meetings.
- Murphy continues climbing up the Stevenson all-time goals list, now in sole possession of ninth in program history. She passed current assistant coach Carly Bowes with her third goal of the day, taking over sole possession with her fourth tally.
- Murphy matched her season-high scoring output with five goals, notching seven points on the afternoon.
- Murphy also moved into sole possession of ninth on the Stevenson all-time points list with 165, passing Laura Higgs.
- With a draw control win this afternoon, Kozlowski moved into a tie for fourth place on the Stevenson all-time draw control list, tying Sarah Roerty with 149.
- The Mustangs went 15-of-17 on clears, turning defense into offense on multiple occasions throughout the game.
- Stevenson limited the Ducks to just 4-of-10 on free-position chances, holding a 33-28 edge in shots for the game.
- Stevens was off to an 8-0 start for the first time since the 2009 season.
- Rogers racked up her 40th goal of the season with her free-position marker at the 6:32 mark of the fourth quarter.
UP NEXT
- Stevenson: The Mustangs close out nonconference play, hosting Rowan on Wednesday, March 30 at 7:00 p.m.
- Stevens: The Ducks begin MAC Freedom action against DeSales on Wednesday, March 30.
