New Haven Rallies to Edge Women’s Lacrosse 16-15 in NE-10 Semis

NEW HAVEN, CT – Ashley Ferrandiz scored with 33 seconds remaining in regulation as top seed New Haven rallied to defeat the Merrimack women’s lacrosse team 16-15 Saturday afternoon in the Northeast-10 Semifinals at DellaCamera Stadium.

After having its five-game winning streak snapped Saturday, Merrimack finishes the season 8-8 and in fourth place in the Northeast-10.

Ferrandiz completed an incredible comeback, capping a five-goal rally in the final 6:38 to defeat the fourth-seeded Warriors.

The Chargers actually led 11-8 with 19 minutes remaining, but the Warrior comeback began, as the visitors rattled off five unanswered goals, three of them while playing a man down, capped off with goals 26 seconds apart from Christina McCarron, who was basically playing on one leg, and Kelly Pasquantonio to take a 13-11 lead with 14:27 remaining and leaving the hometown Charger crowd in shock. Maddie Basile was instrumental in the comeback scoring twice, while setting up McCarron’s go-ahead tally.

Meredith Prior continued the offensive out burst as the sophomore took a great pass from Kelly Pasquantonio and buried it to give the visitors the three-goal lead with 11 minutes remaining. Lauren Leddy then upped the lead to 15-11 with her 41st of the season with 9:11 to play.

But the Northeast-10 regular season champion did not quit, as Ferrandiz cut her team’s deficit to 15-12 with her fourth of the game with 6:38 remaining in regulation. Less than three minutes later, the game was tied as Sarah Magnone evened the score with her 35th of the year.

The Chargers won the ensuing draw control and held the ball for the final possession in which Ferrandiz buried the winner with 33 seconds remaining.

The Warriors never had a chance to tie as the hosts grabbed the faceoff and ran out the clock to advance to the Northeast-10 Championship against the winner of #2 Stonehill and #3 Southern New Hampshire.

Despite committing six early turnovers, the Warriors scored on four of their first six shots and took a 4-2 early lead behind goals from Leddy, Kelly Pasquantonio, Mia Basile and Maria DeStefano.

After Leddy netted her second of the game, 40th of the season to make it 5-3 Warriors, Merrimack continued its offensive pressure but could not increase its lead after Leddy and Maddie Basile each hit a post. The Chargers eventually tied the game at five on a free-position shot by Magnone, but Kelly Pasquantonio split two defenders and beat goaltender Maureen Spellman to give Merrimack the 6-5 lead at halftime.

Ferrandiz finished with five goals and seven points, while her sister, Mallory Ferrandiz tallied four goals and six points.

Kelly Pasquantonio led the Warriors with four goals and five points, with Leddy and Maddie Basile each scoring three times. Jamie-Lee Whiteway made six saves in the loss, all of them in the first half.