Valluzzi's Nine Points Leads Lacrosse To Win At FDU

The Central Connecticut women's lacrosse team pulled away in the fourth quarter to earn a 16-12 road victory over Northeast Conference foe Fairleigh Dickinson Saturday afternoon.

The Blue Devils had four players record at least three points, led by a game-high nine points from Lauren Valluzzi. Talie Richardson gave the Blue Devils seven draw controls in the victory.

GAME INFORMATION

Score: CCSU 16, FDU 12

Records: CCSU (3-7; 1-3 NEC), FDU (1-8; 1-3 NEC)

Location: University Stadium | Teaneck, NJ

Key Moments

• The Blue Devils got off to a fast start as three different players scored in the first 7:42 of the game to build a 3-0 advantage
• The Knights rallied, scoring three times in th 4:15 to knot the score at 3-3 before the end of the first period
• Brieanna Berneir scored 32 ticks into the second quarter, and was followed by a Lauren Valluzzi goal at 9:14 to once again give the Blue Devils a multi-goal lead
• Once again the Knights answered tying the game on a Saige-Lyn Gidzinski tally with 1:19 to play in the second quarter
• CCSU would take a lead into the break when Valluzzi fed Chloe Leiter for a 6-5 advantage with 40 seconds left in the first-half
• The third quarter continued the back-and-forth, with the Blue Devils holding the lead, or being tied, but never trailing
• After the Knights tied the game 6-6 28 seconds into the period, Leiter (11;27) and Valluzzi (11:00) scored 27 seconds apart for an 8-6 lead
• The Knights scored the next two tallies to draw event, 8-8 midway in the third
• Olivia Gianakos netted a Valluzzi pass with 3:10 left in the quarter to give CCSU a 9-8 advantage that it would take into the final period
• The Knights again drew even early in the period, tying the game 9-9 with 13:09 to play in regulation
• Valluzzi struck twice in response, 82 seconds apart, for an 11-9 edge with 11:17 to play
• The Knights got one back at the 10:55 mark, before Richardson (10:09) and Yermal (9:08) made the CCSU run 4-1, and the lead 13-10
• Brielle Mcinaw scored twice in a minute, to make the CCSU lead one, 13-12, at the 7:45 mark
• Poggi ended a nearly seven minute drought for CCSU, coming from behind the cage to score just under the cross bar with 3:12 to play and giving the Blue Devils a 14-12 advantage
• Richardson won the ensuing draw control, her sixth of the game, leading to Valluzzi finding Gianakos with 1:59 to play and putting the Blue Devils up three goals, 15-12
• Richardson again won the draw and this time it led to an Olivia Poggi tally with 78 seconds left

NOTES

• Valluzzi finished with five goals and four assists, single-game highs in each of those categories
• The Blue Devils had 18 draw controls on Saturday, with five coming from Madison Cowdin
• Gianakos had her fifth hat trick of the season, to go along with a team-best three ground balls and two caused turnovers
• Cowdin added a pair of caused turnovers, as did Gabby Melendez
• Poggi recorded a hat trick as well, while Chloe Leiter had two goals and an assist
• Adrianna Richards made nine saves in earning the win in goal for CCSU
• Richardson's draw total is a career-high

UP NEXT

The Blue Devils return to action on Wednesday with a road game at NEC foe Merrimack.