GWYNEDD VALLEY, Penn. (March 16, 2022) – The Gwynedd Mercy University lacrosse team scored six of the game's first seven goals and went on to defeat Rutgers University-Camden, 21-7, in a non-conference contest here Wednesday afternoon.
The Griffins improve to 6-2 with their first win over the Scarlet Raptors in the five games of the all-time series. Rutgers-Camden falls to 2-3.
Senior attack Meleah Hoats scored three goals within the first 2:03 of the game, giving Gwynedd Mercy a quick lead. After Rutgers-Camden cut the gap 3:55 into the contest on a goal by sophomore midfielder
Isabella Tamburrino, assisted by senior midfielder
Claire Gailliout, Hoats scored her fourth goal of the contest. Sophomore attack Kristin Varilla tacked on two quick goals, giving the Griffins a 6-1 lead before Gailliout scored an unassisted tally with four minutes left in the first quarter.
By the end of the opening quarter, the Griffins held an 8-2 lead, which they stretched to 14-3 by halftime on the way to their win.
Both Hoats and Varilla scored five goals apiece for Gwynedd Mercy, with Hoats adding one assist and six ground balls. Senior attackers Laura Pelczar and Grace Bernicker both added three goals, with Pelczar tacking on three assists. Junior midfielder Damali Teagle scored two goals for the winners, while leading the team with three caused turnovers and nine draw controls.
Gailliout paced the Scarlet Raptors with three goals and one assist, while freshman midfielder
Ciara Butler added one goal and one assist. Tamburrino, senior attack
Rachel Haigh and senior midfielder
Jazmin Torres each added one goal.
Gailliout and sophomore goalie
G Bellon notched two ground balls apiece, while Gailliout and Torres both had five draw controls.
Bellon made a career-high 15 saves in goal while facing a career-high 49 shots. Gwynedd Mercy junior Reilly Owens had six saves in her 45 minutes of playing time. Senior Julia Smith played the last 15 minutes in the Griffins' goal without a save.
Rutgers-Camden returns to action Saturday with a 1 p.m. non-conference game at Bryn Athyn College.
