MADISON, N.J. (April 24, 2019) – Behind six student-athletes with two or more goals, the FDU-Florham women's lacrosse team cruised past Manhattanville College 20-3 in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom play Wednesday afternoon.

FDU improves to 8-7, 5-1 within the MAC Freedom as the Valiants drop to 5-9, 1-5 in the conference.

Manhattanville got on the scoreboard just 1:48 into the game, but the Devils took over from there. Sophomore Mia Michaelides answered back 1:04 later to kick-start a string of 14 straight Devils tallies bridging the two halves. Seniors Kathleen Petrucelli, Caroline Pape, and Caitlyn Damon, and junior Aliyha Elk along with Michaelides netted multiple goals scoring the rally. Pape also collected four assists in the opening half, with the team scoring a pair of man-down goals.

FDU held a commanding edge in every statistical category over the first 30 minutes, including shots (24-4), clears (9-4), ground balls (19-7) and draw controls (12-3).

After Damon opened the second stanza with a goal off a pass junior Madison Wood, the Valiants came back with two quick markers within a 1:05 span. That would be all the Manhattanville offense would muster on the day, as the stifling Devils defense held the visitors to just one shot attempt over the final 18:30. FDU closed out the game with six consecutive goals, including the three within 2:37. After a Petrucelli tally made it 17-3, sophomore Hannah Bhend corralled the draw and raced down the field, going untouched to score an unassisted goal.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
•    Elk recorded her second straight hat-trick, and her third in six games.
•    Petrucelli and Damon combined for nine goals and an assist.
•    Pape registered two goals and five helpers while adding three ground balls and three draw controls.
•    Senior Erin Gill played 41:59 in relief of starter Megan Nemeth, making three stops.
•    Led by six from sophomore Nina Shirey, the Devils caused 26 turnovers as a unit. The 26 forced turnovers marked a season-high for the team.
•    Bhend classmate Kayla Brunner each notched four draw controls, as the group recorded a season-high 17.
•    Elk and Michaelides each scored with a man-down, marking the first time this year FDU has scored more than one man-down tally.

UP NEXT 
The Devils will host Wilkes University on Saturday at 1 p.m, as the Devils will honor the nine senior as part of the Senior Day.