POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – No. 5 Marist women's lacrosse staged a late comeback to defeat No. 4 Manhattan 15-14 in the opening round of the MAAC Championship on Saturday afternoon. Samantha Mehalick recorded a Marist single-game record 11 goals, including the game-winning goal with seven seconds left in the second half. The Red Foxes advance to the MAAC Semifinals, improving to 8-9 on the season and 5-4 in the MAAC.
 

FIRST HALF

• Manhattan opened the game 4-0 before Kelly George put Marist on the board with a free position tally at the 20:59 mark.
• After the Jaspers took a 6-1 lead, Mehalick scored four consecutive times in a span of 6:02 to make it 6-5 Jaspers with 11:39 until halftime.
• The Jaspers capped the first-half scoring with a pair of goals in the last seven minutes.

SECOND HALF

• The Red Foxes burst out of the break with four goals from Mehalick, Audrey Cerrone and Carly Grant in the first 3:19. Marist took its first lead of the day at 26:41.
• Manhattan responded with five of the next six goals for a 13-10 advantage with 6:12 to play.
• Mehalick and Grant found the back of the net for four consecutive goals as the Red Foxes regained the lead 14-13 as the clock read 3:48.
• After the Jaspers tied the game at 14 with 22 seconds left, Hailey Wagner won the ensuing draw control, and Mehalick drew a foul for a free position attempt. The junior tucked the shot into the lower-left side of the net for the game-winner.

STATS

• Marist earned a season-high 27 draw controls, tied for third-most in a Division I game this season, while holding Manhattan to a season-low four.
• The Red Foxes' offense outscored the Jaspers 10-6 in the second half thanks to a 21-13 shot advantage.
• Mehalick led the way with 17 shots while going a perfect 4-4 from the free position.
• George posted a goal and four assists, while Wagner also compiled four assists.

NOTES

• Marist reaches the MAAC Semifinals for the seventh consecutive season.
• Mehalick's 11 goals breaks her own record of eight, set on April 25, 2018 against Siena. The mark is also the most in one game for a Division I student-athlete this season.
• Wagner tallied 22 draw controls to surpass 200 this season.

UP NEXT

• The Red Foxes will play either No. 1 Fairfield or No. 2 Monmouth, depending on the outcome of the quarterfinal matchup between No. 3 Siena and No. 6 Canisius.
• The Stags play the lowest seed remaining, while the higher seed battles the Hawks.