MADISON, NJ (February 29, 2020)- Women's Lacrosse played their second game in as many days on Saturday afternoon, defeating St. Joseph's College Long Island 17-7. The win, the first collegiate win for Head Coach Evan Mager, improves the Devils record to 1-1 overall, while the loss drops the Golden Eagles to 0-1 on the season.
 
FIRST HALF
The FDU offense came out hot in the first minute of play, thanks to a goal from senior Madison Wood 51-seconds into the contest. It was Wood again at 27:33, off an assist from freshman Emma Ciquera, extending the Devils lead to 2-0. St. Joseph's responded quickly, netting their first goal of the game less than one-minute later. The Devils wasted no time with their response, this time out of the stick of Ciquera just 11-seconds later. Back and forth play continued as the Golden Eagles scored their second of the game with 24:34 remaining in the half, cutting the score to 3-2. FDU's offense had the response in bunches, scoring three straight goals from senior Aliyha Elk, junior Olivia Chaoush and freshman Kylee Garcia. The Golden Eagles turned up their pressure on offense, with two free position shots wide of freshman goalie Maddy Apap. St. Joseph's would final break through with two goals at the 15:25 and 12:49 marks.

Garcia answered FDU just 30-seconds later, netting her second off the game off an assist from freshman Kate Musselman and increasing the lead back to three, 7-4. After another Eagles goal with 10-minutes remaining, it was Apap stopping a low shot off the stick of a Golden Eagles shooter to keep the FDU lead at two.  Again, it was the Golden Eagles continuing to pressure offensively, netting a goal at 8:10 to cut the lead to 7-6. Less than 20-seconds later in a man-up situation, St. Joseph's tied the game at 7-7. With 7:24 remaining in the first half, senior Nina Shirey streaked to the net, scoring her first goal of the season and retaking the lead back for FDU, 8-7. At 3:55, it was Elk with her second of the game, extending the Devils lead back to two, 9-7. FDU would add two more goals before the end of the half, first off the stick of Wood and then from Ciquera, taking an 11-7 lead into the break.

SECOND HALF
It was back and forth play to start the second half, with both goalkeepers steering away opportunities in the first five-minutes of play. Apap recorded another save at 26:26 to keep the FDU advantage at four. Junior Hannah Bhend turned defense into offense, launching a shot that was saved by the Golden Eagles goalie, flipping the pressure onto the St. Joseph's defense. That pressure paid off for FDU, with junior Mia Michaelides finding the back off the net at the 21:42 mark and adding to the lead. Apap made a save at 20:12, to hold the five-goal advantage for FDU and it was Shirey again for the Devils at the 18:21 mark, scoring her second of the game. The Devils continued to press, increasing the lead to 14-7 thanks to Ciquera's fourth of the game off an assist from Bend with 16:45 remaining. Garcia connected from Chaoush at 13:34, Chaoush scored unassisted at 11:17 and Shirey netted her third of the game from musselman at 9:45, to increase the Devils lead to 17-7. FDU would hold on for their first victory of the season.

LEAD DEVIL
It was an offensive outburst for the freshman ciquera, netting four goals on the game to lead all Devils.

FRESHMAN FEELS
Of the 17 of goals scored on the day by FDU, seven of them were put in the net by a member of the freshman class.

FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
This win marks the first in the collegiate career of Head Coach Evan Mager.

SOMETHING DIFFERENT
After not recording a goal in 19 games played during the 2019 campaign, Shirey had a career day, netting three goals past the Golden Eagles goalie.

BRICK WALL
The Devils freshman goalie Apap was a wall all day, stopping eight of the potential 15 she faced.

COACHES THOUGHTS
"Playing back to back games is a tough thing, but to close out the week after a really tough start to the season and come out on top the way we did, shows a lot about the character of our team and the way we fight. We had seven different goal scorers, three with hat tricks and two freshman with multiple goals. The way our freshman played on both ends of the field only speaks to the future of the program. This is the second straight game we've played a great second half and now it is time to build on this and get prepared for Montclair State." - Head Coach Evan Mager

UP NEXT
The Devils play their third straight game at Robert T. Shields field on Wednesday, March 4 when they host Montclair State University at 3:30 p.m.