Lacrosse Earns 14-4 Win Over Howard In Home Opener

The Central Connecticut lacrosse team earned a victory, 14-4 over NEC foe Howard, in its 2024 home opener on Arute Field. The Blue Devils are 1-3 on the season and 1-1 in league play.

Lauren Valluzzi led the Blue Devils offense with seven assists, to go along with a ground ball. Talie Richardson scored five times, had seven draw controls, six ground balls and four caused turnovers.

CCSU returns to action on March 12, when it travels to Yale for a 1:00 pm non-conference game.

KEY MOMENTS

• After a scoreless few moments to the game, Valluzzi handed out her first assist of the game to Brieanna Bernier at 11:57
• Howard answered 49 seconds later on a Marley Rhymes tally
• CCSU scored four straight goals after that, two by Richardson, to open a 5-1 advantage with 32 seconds left in the opening period
• After a Howard tally to close the opening quarter, The Blue Devils scored the first four goals of the second period, capped by Richardson's fourth of the game with 3:29 to play
• The squads traded goals in the final moments for CCSU to take a 10-3 lead into the locker room
• Valluzzi assisted on both goals scored in the third quarter, both to Makayla Winegar, to push the advantage to 12-3
• Bernier scored at the 10:54 mark of the final period for a 13-3 lead
• After a Howard tally by Cecilia Vitti with 6:17 to play, Valluzzi found Richardson one last time for the final margin

NOTES & NUMBERS

• Kya Risher earned the win in goal for the Blue Devils, making 10 saves, against three allowed, in 49:21 of play
• CCSU had 23 ground balls, led by six from Richardson and four by Risher
• Winegar finished with three points on two goals and an assist
• Gabby Testani (4:55) and Madeline Rondon (5:44) both made their CCSU debuts
• The Blue Devils had a 23-11 advantage in ground balls
• Bernier and Shaelyn Yermal both scored twice as well in the contest
• Seven Blue Devils scored a goal and three had assists