Willard and Reilly Lead Merchant Marine Past FSC in Skyline Opener

Recap, photo courtesy of Farmingdale State College

Merchant Marine - 16, Farmingdale State - 7

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Farmingdale, N.Y. - Junior attack Meredith Willard (Portland, Maine) and junior midfielder Jessica Reilly (Sayville, N.Y.) led the Merchant Marine women's lacrosse team to a 16-7 Skyline Conference victory over Farmingdale State this afternoon. Willard recorded a game-high 10 points on seven goals and three assists, while Reilly netted six goals and added one assist for seven points.

The Rams (1-8, 0-1) held an early 2-1 advantage before five straight Merchant Marine goals (three from Willard and two by Reilly) put the Mariners (6-2, 1-0) on top, 6-2, with 18:29 remaining in the first half.

Trailing 7-3, Farmingdale State sophomore midfielder Courtney Gendels (Wantagh, N.Y.) scored off the feed from Sam Shelton (Holtsville, N.Y.) to cut the deficit to three. Merchant Marine closed the half with three unanswered goals over the final 9:57 to take a 10-4 advantage into the break.

FSC senior midfielder Samantha Morra (Levittown, N.Y.) opened the second half with an unassisted goal to pull the Rams within five, 10-5. With 26:44 remaining, Reilly tallied an unassisted goal and only 51 seconds later, a score by Willard put the Mariners out in front, 12-5. Over the final 17:21, Merchant Marine outscored Farmingdale State 4-2 to cap off the 16-7 conference victory.

Morra and Gendels each scored a pair of goals for the Rams, while freshman attack Julia Tuohy (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) added two assists. 

Merchant Marine junior goalkeeper Hannah Gizzi (Finksburg, Md.) stopped nine shots in the win. 

FSC next will travel to Mount Saint Mary for a Skyline Conference game on Tuesday, April 10th at 7:00 p.m.