UDC Women’s Lacrosse Falls to Mercy in ECC Road Game

DOBBS FERRY, NY – Junior midfielder Amber Walls scored a game-high three goals for the Firebirds, but the University of the District of Columbia women's lacrosse team was defeated on the road by East Coast Conference foe Mercy, 15-4 on Friday afternoon.

The Firebirds (0-3, 0-3 ECC) continue to improve offensively, doubling their previous season total with four goals today. UDC took nine shots as a team, including a game-high five shots by Walls (Biology – Temple Hills, MD/Surrattsville HS), who became the program's first multi-goal scorer in a game. Freshman defender Jazmin Lopez (Biology – Pembroke Pines, FL/Charles W. Flanagan HS) added a goal as well – her 2^nd on the season – and sophomore midfielder Tiara Goode (Criminal Justice – Brentwood, NY/Brentwood HS) was credited with one assist.

Defensively, District of Columbia was a season-best 7-of-14 in clear attempts and forced 10 Mercy turnovers. Defenders Diana Ofunwa (Mathematics/English – Washington, DC/Roosevelt HS) and Cherakye Lopez (English – Lynchburg, VA/Timberlake Christian Schools) caused one Mavericks turnover each. Meanwhile, freshman goalkeeper Dani Falco (English/Elementary Education – Middletown, NY/Valley Central HS) made six saves in a complete game effort.

Mercy scored early and often to win its second straight game and improve to 4-6 overall (2-3 ECC). Eight different Maverick players scored in the first half to help the hosts race out to an 8-0 lead at intermission.

After nearly seven minutes of scoreless action in the second half, Walls put the Firebirds on the board with a free position shot goal at the 23:09 mark. Then, following a goal at the 22-minute mark by Mercy's Kristen Znaniecki, Walls struck again with an unassisted goal at the 19:49 mark.

Already leading 9-2, Mercy went on a 5-0 scoring run to take a 14-2 lead with 11:42 remaining in regulation. Lopez would score for UDC just past the 10-minute mark followed by Walls' third goal of the day at the 7:18 mark to make it 14-4. Mercy defender Paige Siegler, who tied Walls for the game-high with three goals, scored the game's final goal with 2:27 left on the clock.

The Mavericks out-shot UDC 28-9, won 18-of-21 draw controls and doubled-up the Firebirds in ground balls, 14-7.

The Firebirds' next game is April 4^th at ECC foe St. Thomas Aquinas.