Women's Lacrosse Tops Howard, 22-7

The Central Connecticut women's lacrosse team set a season-high for goals scored en route to a 22-7 victory over Howard.  The Blue Devils (3-6) were led offensively by seven points from sophomore Elyse Malecki and six points from senior Meaghan McCurry.  Freshman Alexandra Hooker also had a stand out game with five goals against the Bison (0-7).

The 22 goals scored by the Blue Devils are the second highest single-game total in program history.  The record of 23 was set in a 23-17 victory over Saint Francis U in April 2010.

The Blue Devils jumped out to an 8-0 lead over the first 16:43 of the game with the first seven CCSU goals coming during the opening eight minutes of play.

Hooker led the opening charge with three of the eight goals, while freshman Marissa Soto also tallied a pair.  Malecki, McCurry, and freshman Danielle Heedles added the other goals.

Hooker recorded her first career hat-trick within the first 17 minutes of the game, while Heedles' score was the first of her career.

Howard got on the board for the first time at the 12:30 mark and scored again with 10:02 left in the half.  A goal by CCSU freshman Kelsey Murphy separated the two scores by the Bison.

With 9:32 left in the half, freshman Jessica Giangarra sparked a 4-0 run by the Blue Devils with a free position goal.  Malecki followed with a free position score to make it an 11-2 game and then Giangarra passed to Malecki who found the net to give CCSU a 12-2 lead.  Hooker capped the run by scoring her fourth goal of the game with 5:37 left in the period.

The Bison closed the first half with three goals over the final five minutes, but the Blue Devils were also able to net a pair of goals.  Malecki scored off a pass from Meaghan McCurry and senior Amanda Toke scored off a pass from Giangarra.

In the second half, the Blue Devils limited the Bison to a pair of goals, while scoring eight of there own.

Sophomore Falynn McCartney started the scoring with an unassisted goal, which was quickly followed by a pair of goals by McCurry.

CCSU's final four goals of the afternoon came from Murphy, Hooker, junior Brigit Hogan and freshman Erin Dougherty.  The goal by Dougherty was the first of her career and set the final score at 22-7.

Defensively, junior goalkeeper Morgan Tullar earned the victory to improve to 3-6 on the season.  She allowed seven goals and made seven saves in the game.

As a team the Blue Devils caused a season-high 14 turnovers, including two each by senior Ashley Olhausen and freshman Courtney McPartland.  Sophomore Madison Hughes and Hooker scooped up a team-high three ground balls in the contest, while Hogan, McCurry, Olhausen and Murphy all had two.

McCartney also recorded a season-high seven draw controls, while Toke, McPartland and Soto each controlled two.

Malecki (7), McCurry (6), Hooker (5), Toke (4), Soto (3), Giangarra (3) and Murphy (2) all registered multiple points in the game.

Toke, Malecki and McCurry each recorded three assists in the game to share the team lead.

The victory over Howard ends the non-conference schedule for the Blue Devils who will open NEC play on Friday, April 4 at Mount St. Mary's.  The Blue Devils will then travel to Wagner on Sunday, April 6.  The first home NEC game will be played on April 11 against St. Francis U.