NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Manhattan Jaspers women's lacrosse team (3-13, 2-5 MAAC), despite four goals in the fourth quarter, fell in their final MAAC road game against the Warriors from Merrimack (5-11, 2-5 MAAC) by a final score of 8-7 at Duane Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Initial action saw both teams trading shots with each other, as Ella Brunette responded to an opening goal from the Warriors less than five minutes after opening draw.
- Julia Kerr started the next exchange with just under four minutes to play in the frame, with Merrimack answering back by quarter's end.
- The home team ended the trend in the second, as back-to-back scores by the midway point put the hosts up two.
- For the Jaspers, it was Lauren Maher with the lone strike before the halftime break, heading into the locker room with a 5-3 deficit.
- Manhattan struggled to generate offensive chances to start the second half, only getting one shot on goal in the entirety of the third quarter.
- Two more scores from Merrimack sent them into the final 15 minutes with a four goal edge at 7-3.
- Maya Metz took advantage of the man-up chance and capitalized off the feed from Kerr for the first goal of the fourth quarter.
- After Kerr slashed the lead to two, Brooke Leonard found Meghan Wendler for the biggest visiting score of the game, making the game 7-6 with over three minutes showing on the scoreboard.
- Merrimack fired back with a needed insurance goal, putting their margin back up to two for the final two minutes.
- Even with another score from Maher with nine seconds left, it proved to be too little, too late for the Green and White.
STATS AND NOTES
- Senior and Sophomore attackers Lauren Maher and Julia Kerr led the squad with two goals apiece, the only multi-goal performances of the afternoon. Kerr's assist put her at a team-high three points on the afternoon.
- Kerr also led the team in ground balls collected with four.
- Freshman and Sophomore midfielders Ella Brunette and Meghan Wendler each caused two turnovers.
- Junior midfielder Audrey Ziff won the most draw controls with six.
- Redshirt Junior goalkeeper Sophie Pasnak logged 11 saves through a full 60 minutes.
NEXT UP:
Manhattan will continue its 2026 campaign next Saturday, April 18 when the Jaspers return home, this time for the season finale on Senior Day concluding against the Saints from Siena. Action from Gaelic Park will get underway starting at 3:00 PM and can be viewed on ESPN+ with a paid subscription.
Follow Manhattan Women's Lacrosse on Instagram (@manhattanwlacrosse_) and X (@ManhattanWLacrosse).
