Riverdale, N.Y. -- After a successful 5-2 run through its non-conference opponents, the Manhattan College women's lacrosse team opens its MAAC season this weekend with home matches Friday evening against Marist College and Sunday afternoon against Fairfield Unversity..
“This weekend will be very telling for how we will do during the conference season,” said Manhattan women's lacrosse head coach Jim Drivas. “Both teams are strong, but I am confident the momentum we built up during the non-conference season will carry through this weekend and the rest of the season.”
The Lady Jaspers come into the conference season off a big 14-10 win Tuesday over the University of California-Davis. Freshman Chrissy Gutenberger again paced Manhattan with a five-goal effort, giving her 23 goals on the season. Also leading the Lady Jaspers was Julia Lavelle, who had a hat trick against UC-Davis and has 19 goals and 3 assists on the season. The third key member of the potent Lady Jasper attack, Caralyn Hickey, was held goal-less Tuesday, but picked up an assist. She now has 20 goals and 3 assists on the season.
Marist enters the 7 p.m. Friday match with the Lady Jaspers with a 6-1 overall record and a 1-0 record in the MAAC. That MAAC victory came Wednesday against Siena, a 15-11 win that featured a six-goal effort by senior midfielder Stephanie Garland. Like the Lady Jaspers, the Red Foxes had a successful non-conference performance, picking up wins against Lafayette College, Stony Brook University, Columbia University, the University of Connecticut, Davidson College and Presbyterian College.
Sunday's Lady Jasper opponent, Fairfield, comes into the weekend with an overall record of 6-2. It plays at Iona Friday and comes off a 17-8 loss to Dartmouth College Tuesday. The Stags are led by Kristen Coleman, who has 32 points on 24 goals and 8 assists, Rebecca White, who has tallied 28 goals and 3 assists for 31 points; and Erin Rigby, who has 17 goals and six assists for 23 points. Their six non-conference wins have come against Monmouth University, the University of Connecticut, Boston College, Lehigh University, Mount St. Mary's and Sacred Heart University..
