CCSU Improves to 3-4 With 20-8 Defeat of Howard

Freshman Mackenzy Ryan scored a career best four goals and added one assist as Central Connecticut State University defeated Howard by a score of 20-8 on Wednesday. The Blue Devils broke a four game losing skid and improved to 3-4 on the season with the road victory.

CCSU scored the first three goals of the game within the first three minutes to get out to an early lead. Ryan scored two goals during the run, while junior Michele Conway added the third on a free position attempt. Central and Howard alternated scores until the Blue Devils tallied the final four of the first half to take a 10-4 lead into the break.

Ryan started the run with 8:12 to play in the period on an unassisted score. Sophomores Ashley Mara and Ashley Perkoski then added unassisted goals on back to back possessions, before freshman Meaghan McCurry finished the half with yet another unassisted goal as the clocked clicked to zero.

Howard fought back to start the second half with the first two goals of the period, but CCSU countered with two of its own, as freshman Betsy Vendel and Perkoski increased the Blue Devil lead to 12-6. Howard got as close as five, at 13-8, before Central closed the game with six straight goals.

Sophomore Alexa Smead started and finished the late run, getting an assist from Ryan to start things of with 14:55 to play. The attacker ended the game with three straight goals, receiving an assist from Vendel on the penultimate score.

Ryan led the way with four goals and one assist, while Mara and Vendel and Smead each added four points in the victory. Mara scored three times and assisted on one, while Vendel recorded two of each for CCSU. Smead scored four goals, all coming in the final 15 minutes. Perkoski and Conway finished with two goals and one assist a piece.

Sophomore goalkeeper Erin DeLancey tallied 12 saves while playing all 60 minutes in net. The Blue Devils outshot Howard by a mark of 40-24 and forced goalie Amber Meeks to stop 12 shots as well.

CCSU will stay on the road to take on Liberty this Friday, March 26 at 3:00 p.m.