Morrell leads Hounds past Moravian, 19-9, in lax opener

March 10, 2010

Assumption 19, Moravian 9

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. --- Senior midfielder EMILY MORRELL (Bethany, CT/Amity) scored five goals and added an assist as Assumption College opened its season with a 19-9 women's lacrosse win over Moravian, PA in a game, dubbed "the battle of the greyhounds."

Sophomore goalkeeper JULIE VERBIC (Mansfield, MA/Mansfield) made 15 saves in net for Assumption

Freshman ERIN VANA (Ipswich, MA/Ipswich) opened the scoring with her first collegiate goal just 52 seconds into the game on a feed from sophomore attack PAIGE DELUCCA (East Lyme, CT/East Lyme). Junior midfielder ERIN THERIAULT (Feeding Hills, MA/Agawam) made it 2-0 at 2:19 before Moravian got on the scoreboard 33 seconds later as freshman midfielder CAROLINE STYSLINGER (Spring Lake Heights, NJ/St. Rose) scored her second goal of the season.

After freshman midfielder STEPH O'ROURKE (Amherst, NH/Souhegan) scored her first collegiate goal, Moravian senior attack JILLIAN PAGLIEI (Ivyland, PA/Council Rock North) scored two straight for the "other" Greyhounds to make it 3-3.

Assumption then got goals from Morrell, junior midfielder ERIN GOMBOS (Norwalk, CT/Norwalk) and Theriault to move in front, 6-3.

Moravian junior midfielder SARAH CARMAN (Perkasie, PA/Souderton Area) scored back to back goals and Morrell traded back-to back goals and sophomore midfielder LAURA STRELIS (Arlington, MA/Arlington Catholic) scored for Assumption to make it 9-5.

Senior attack PAIGE WARBRICK (Souderton, PA/Souderton Area) scored for Moravian and and Theriault and Vana countered for Assumption for an 11-6 halftime advantage.

After sophomore attack ALLISON HESS (Harleysville, PA/Souderton Area) scored for Moravian to open the second half the Worcester greyhounds scored five straight by DeLucca, Morrell, Strelis, Morrell again and freshman midfielder CAITLIN WHITE (Bethany, CT/Amity) to put the game away at 16-7.

Theriault finished with three goals, while Vana, Strelis, Gombos and sophomore attack DANIELLE D'AMICO (Johnston, RI/LaSalle Academy) finished with two goals each. White ended with a goal and two assists.

Pagliei led Moravian with three goals, while Carman had two goals.

Assumption outshot Moravian, 42-2, and held a 22-15 advantage in ground balls, The Greyhounds also dominated the faceoff action winning 26 of-32, all by junior defender SARAH ROOS (Feeding Hills, MA/Agawam). Therualt and Gombos each had five ground balls.

Assumption, now 1-0, will open its home schedule Sunday against No. 1 ranked Adelphi University in its Northeast-10 Conference opener. Moravian is 0-2.

CLICK HERE FOR ASSUMPTION-MORAVIAN BOX SCORE