SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – A career single-game best for junior Maddie Desimio-Maloney helped Simmons lacrosse (1-1) pick up its first victory of the season, exploding to a 17-4 victory over Mount Holyoke College (0-1) on Saturday afternoon. The Sharks rattled off 11 unanswered goals since the final minute of the first half.

Mount Holyoke took an early two-goal lead, but the Sharks answered. Taking advantage of a player-up opportunity, junior Frida Turriza cut the deficit in half, scoring her second goal of the season.

The Lyons extend their lead back to two goals scoring at the start of the second period, but the Sharks responded with a 5-0 run to take their first lead of the game.  Senior Cameron Richards ignited the run scoring her team-leading third goal of the season to pull within one of the lead. Three minutes later, Richards added to her stat line, connecting with Turriza to tie up the contest at three. 

With momentum on the side of the Sharks, Desmio-Maloney gave the Sharks a two-goal lead, scoring back-to-back goals late in the period to take a 5-3 lead. Senior Julia Chausse extend the lead to 6-3 with her first goal of the season, before the Lyons snapped the five-goal run to cut the lead back to two. However, with a minute before the period ended Chausse put the Sharks on top by three once again with her second goal of the game. 

Emerging at the start of the second half, senior Riley Wasiuk sparked the Sharks second half offensive outburst. A player down, Turriza connected with Wasiuk to put the Sharks up four, 8-4, at the start of the third quarter. The Sharks did not look back.

In the second half alone, Desimio-Maloney dished out a career single-game high five assists to five different players, while first-year Lauren Krupnikoff notched her first two goals her collegiate career in the fourth quarter as the Sharks cruised to the victory.

First-year goalie Anya Younie collected her first collegiate career win recording four saves in 60 minutes. 

SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS

• Junior Maddie Desimio-Maloney eclipsed her career single-game best tallying five assists – all in the second half. Additionally, Desimio-Maloney recorded two goals to finish with single-game high seven points.
• Senior Cameron Richards ignited the 5-0 run in the second quarter that gave the Sharks the lead. Richards finished with two goals and an assist for three points.
• First-year Lauren Krupnikoff recorded her first collegiate career goal three minutes into fourth quarter and finished with two goals.
• Three players registered two-plus goals: Julia Chausse (3), Lauren Krupnikoff (2), Riley Wasiuk (2), Cameron Richards (2), Frida Turriza (2), Kat Wood (2), and Maddie Desimio-Maloney (2). 

UP NEXT
Simmons opens up at home on Tuesday, February 27 hosting the University of Hartford at 4 p.m.