MEDAILLE WOMEN CLAIM BACK-TO-BACK WOMEN'S LACROSSE TITLES

The Medaille College women's lacrosse team hosted the D'Youville College Spartans on Tuesday evening with their sights set on their second straight AMCC Championship. After a back-and-forth opening sequence, Medaille used a 10-3 run in the first half and some stifling defense in the second to claim their second straight title 23-7.  
 
The opening stages of the game were tough for both sides as the game was being called very tight early. Four of the first five goals came via free position attempts, with each team alternating scores. Maverick freshman Claire Purdy opened the scoring, with fellow freshman Macayla Barry adding another after a D'Youville goal by Michaela McMahon.
 
After the Spartans tied things at two with a goal by Sierra Brooks, the Mavs' Kelsey Beres added another goal to make it 3-2 and then assisted on Alexis Ackerson's first of the night right after to give Medaille a two-goal lead.
 
D'Youville answered again thanks to Jillian Golding, making it 4-3 but that was as close as they were able to get as the Mavericks offense started clicking on a cool and rainy night. Ackerson, Purdy, and Barry continued their offensive dominance while Sarah Espe and Emma Campagna also joined in on the scoring, earning their 100th point as a Maverick last week.
 
Medaille went into the locker room riding a 10-3 run, up seven and eyeing their second straight AMCC title.
 
As well as Medaille's offense was working in the first half, their defense worked just as well in the final frame. The Mavs held D'Youville to just two second half goals while allowing just eight total shots on goal in the game's final 30 minutes.
 
Freshman Heather Mergenhagen scored twice within a two-minute span late, but it was Purdy who was the star of the night. When all was said and done the freshman scored five goals and assisted on five others for a career high 10 points.
 
Ackerson also played a solid game, scoring six times and assisting on another for seven total points on the night. In total eight different Mavs scored at least one goal while nine Mavericks recorded at least one point.
 
Senior Kaylie Bauer hauled in a team best eight ground balls to go along with her second goal of the season and sophomore Deejah Burgess made 10 saves as Medaille improved to 11-3 overall.