Murtha's 12 Goals Leads WLAX Past Saint Joseph

NEW LONDON, Conn. – Ashley Murtha netted a season-high 12 goals to lead the Mitchell College women's lacrosse team to a 16-8 victory over the University of Saint Joseph on Thursday afternoon in non-conference action at Alumni Field.

Murtha, who increased her team-leading goal total to 39 on the season, recorded her third career game with 10 or more scores. The 12 tallies also ranked as the most in a single game this season in all of NCAA Division III.

Kate McCormack also netted a hat trick for the Mariners, who improved to 4-3 overall, while Taylor Kadlec potted her first career goal. Samantha Ryan made 11 saves in goal to earn the victory.

Rose St. Hilaire finished with four goals and two assists to lead Saint Joseph (4-7 overall). Danielle Bazzano and Hannah Lemek chipped in with a pair of goals apiece. Goalie Emily Bourassa denied 10 shots in the loss.

McCormack notched the game's first goal less than two minutes into the contest, and St. Hilaire answered just over a minute later to tie the game. Murtha then took over for the Mariners, scoring four goals over a five-minute span to put Mitchell on top for good.

Murtha scored two more goals by the end of the half as Mitchell led 7-3 at the break. St. Hilaire opened the second-half scoring to cut the deficit to three, but Murtha scored three times and Kadlec added her tally over a 6:20 spurt that put separation between the two sides.

The Blue Jays never got closer than six in the final 21:25 as the teams traded goals back and forth. McCormack recorded her hat trick in the final seconds off a feed from Kadlec, who finished with two assists in the contest.

Mitchell will next host Regis College on Saturday, April 16 at 11 a.m. Saint Joseph returns to action at home against Lasell College on Saturday at 1 p.m.