Montclair, NJ. – The Montclair State University women's lacrosse team (3-3) was downed in its contest against #16 Stevens (6-3), 18-8 on Friday night at Sprague Field.  

How It Happened

• Stevens was in control early, rattling off three goals in the first three minutes of the game. CARA MCCARTNEY fired in the first goal of the game for Montclair at the 10:45 timestamp to cut the lead to 3-1. Following a pair of turnovers by both teams, Stevens scored back-to-back goals to push the lead to 5-1. McCartney scored again off an AMRA LUKOVIC draw control to make the game 7-2, Ducks. Stevens wrapped up the quarter with two more goals in the final two minutes to hold a 7-2 advantage heading into the second quarter.
• The Red Hawks generated a few shots early in the second, but they went wide of the net. The Ducks extended the lead to 8-2 on a goal at the 12:22 mark. JOEY GROTKOPF made a pair of key stops, including one on a man-down situation. One finally got past her at 7:26 to distance the Stevens lead again. The Ducks reached double-digit goals at 6:16 before LEXI ROBINSON collected the ball and made a nice turnaround shot for a goal. Stevens scored a trio of goals to end the first half with a 13-3 advantage.
• The Ducks won the opening draw, but a nice save by LEA HEGEWALD and a forced turnover by RYAN SALINSKY set up Lukovic with her first goal of the game and the first of the half. Stevens answered by scoring the next two and extended the score to 15-4. Montclair was awarded a free position at 5:06, and Robinson buried it for the Red Hawks' fifth goal. Stevens scored the final goal of the quarter with 41 seconds remaining and put the score at 16-5 heading into the final quarter.
• After Stevens rattled off the first two goals of the fourth, KYRA MORENA found the back of the net for her first goal of the game at the 5:58 mark. The Red Hawks held Stevens scoreless the rest of the way and found two more goals. McCartney took advantage of a man-up opportunity to score at 3:24. Robinson found KAELEY SEK for the final goal of the matchup at 1:05, and the game ended in an 18-8 win for Stevens.

Inside the Numbers

• McCartney led goal scorers with her third hat trick of the season.
• SAMANTHA HANDZO notched a career-high in ground balls with eight in the game and caused a season high of four turnovers.
• Grotkopf and Hegewald split time between the pipes, with Grotkopf making seven saves in the first half and Hegewald making five saves in the second half.

From the Field

• Quote to be added.

Up Next

• Montclair opens up NJAC play on Wednesday, April 1, when they travel to take on nationally ranked TCNJ at 4:00 p.m.