Newburgh, N.Y. – The Mount Saint Mary College Women's Lacrosse team stopped a five game losing streak on Wednesday night with a home conference win over Sage, doubling up the Gators 16-8. Three Knights finished the game with at least five points, with Katie Gattoni (Old Tappan, N.J.) scoring six times to lead the offensive attack.
 
The Knights scored four of the first five goals in the opening period to move in front 4-1 and closed the half with four straight tallies to carry an 8-3 lead into the intermission. Gattoni scored four times in the first 30 minutes for the Knights, with Amanda Clemens (Baldwin, N.Y.) adding a pair of markers in the first half.
 
The Knights outshot Sage in the first half 18-9, including a 13-4 advantage in shots on goal. Groundballs also went the way of the Knights before the break 11-5 as did draw controls 7-5.
 
Sage would pull to within three goals with consecutive scores early in the second half, but a 5-1 stretch from the Knights spread the lead to 13-6. Jen Gries (Hicksville, N.Y.) scored twice in the run and Shannon McGuiness (Oceanside, N.Y.) added a goal and an assist.
 
The Gators would get a goal with just shy of six minutes left to get back to within six goals, but three straight markers from Gries, Kayla Goman (Greenwich, N.Y.) and McGuiness moved the Knights in front 16-7 with 2:34 left in regulation time.
 
Four different Knights scored at least two goals in game, led by six from Gattoni who added three groundballs, a draw control and a caused turnover. Gries scored four times and added an assist with McGuiness rounding out a five point night with three goals and two assists, adding three groundballs.
 
Clemens tallied twice for the Mount and chipped in four draw controls, with senior Claire Duffy (Monroe, N.Y.) winning seven draw controls and causing a pair of turnovers. Goman and McGuiness each finished with three caused turnovers for the Knights.
 
Freshman Amanda Picillo (Valley Stream, N.Y.) picked up the win in goal with six saves, adding a groundball and a caused turnover for the Knights. Jackie St. Pierre finished up with 10 stops for the Gators.
 
For the night, Mount Saint Mary finished with the advantage in shots 32-22, shots on goal 26-14, groundballs 23-20 and draw controls 16-10. The Knights finished the night 10-for-15 in clearing chances.
 
Wednesday's win moves Mount Saint Mary to 5-7 overall and to 1-3 in Skyline Conference play. The Knights will return to action on Saturday when the travel to St. Joseph's-L.I. Opening Draw with the Golden Eagles is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

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