Newburgh, N.Y. – The Mount Saint Mary College Women's Lacrosse team takes to the field for the first time since March 12 on Wednesday afternoon when it makes the short trip to New Paltz. The Knights then return to Kaplan Field for the first time since March 9 on Saturday when it hosts Castleton in its Morgan's Message game.
 
Morgan's Message: On Saturday against the Spartans, the Knights will bring awareness to Mental Health when it hosts its first Morgan's Message game. To learn more about Morgan Rodgers and her story please visit morgansmessage.org.
 
At A Glance: Mount Saint Mary enters Wednesday's contest with a 2-3 overall record and is coming of an 18-2 defeat at Union on March 12.
 
Victoria Ward (Oceanside, N.Y.) is the team leader in each offensive category through five games, pacing the Knights in goals (10), assists (9) and points (19). Ward has also contributed eight groundballs and 10 draw controls for the Mount.
 
Karlie Ferrucci (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) checks in with nine goals and leads the team with 13 draw controls. Ferrucci is also good for nine groundballs and five caused turnovers. Freshman Antonia Licardi (Pine Bush, N.Y.) has her collegiate career off to a strong start, scoring six times and registering 10 points while adding five groundballs and four caused turnovers.
 
Maggie Horan (Stony Point, N.Y.) leads the way for the Mount with 13 groundballs and is tied with freshman Briana Fassett (New Milford, Conn.) in caused turnovers with seven. Kate Crooker (Boonton, N.J.) and Carolyn Del Debbio (Southington, Conn.) have each caused six miscues with Crooker adding eight groundballs and Del Debbio winning nine draws.
 
In goal, Liz Petrellese (Levittown, N.Y.) has made at least 11 saves in four of the Mount's five games, including a season-high 16 at Marywood on March 7. Petrellese has turned aside 62 shots to date and holds a .496 save percentage and a 12.60 goals against average.
 
Scouting New Paltz: The Hawks begin play on Wednesday with a 3-2 overall record and are coming off an 18-4 loss to Stockton on March 13.
 
A trio of Hawks have each scored at least 11 goals through five games, led by 16 markers from Kaitlyn Shaw who paces the team with 20 points and 14 draw controls. Julia Longo has found the back of the net 12 times and chipped in eight groundballs, while Lexi Atwater has scored 11 times.
 
Ella Malanga is tops on the team with eight caused turnovers with Shannon Brosnan and Mia Baldinger each collecting a team-high 13 groundballs.
 
Gabriella Tommaso has started all five games in goal for New Paltz and played 223:32 of a possible 300:00. She has made 14 saves and holds a .292 save percentage and a 9.13 goals against average.
 
Recent History: The Knights and Hawks have met seven times since 2010, but have not played each other since March 9, 2016. New Paltz holds a 6-1 record in the head-to-head series, but the Mount scored a 12-11 home win in the 2016 matchup.
 
A Look At Castleton: The Spartans hold a 1-4 record on the season following a 20-7 loss to Colby-Sawyer College on Monday.
 
Kimberly McCarthy leads the scoring attack with 21 goals and 23 points while adding 14 groundballs. Lacey Greenamyre holds the team lead in assists with eight and has won a team-high 31 draw controls through five games.
 
Megan Ward and Colleen Sheridan have each caused seven turnovers to lead Castleton with Ward adding 16 draws and a team best 23 groundballs.
 
In goal, Katie Opiela has seen the bulk of the action, turning aside 47 shots and posting a .373 save percentage and a 16.63 goals against average.
 
Recent History: The two teams have met twice previous to Saturday with each side winning once. The Spartans scored an 8-7 overtime win in Newburgh on February 24, 2019 before the Knights avenged the loss with a 13-9 road victory on April 13, 2022.
 
What's Next: Mount Saint Mary plays a pair of road games next week, traveling to Ramapo on March 29 before opening Skyline Conference play at Maritime on March 31.