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Women's Lacrosse

Upset Wins by Quinnipiac and Rider Highlight the First Round of the 2025 MAAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship

EDISON, NJ (Apr. 25, 2025) – No. 7 Quinnipiac University and No. 8 Rider University pulled off upset wins in its respective first round games of the 2025 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Women’s Lacrosse Championship on Friday afternoon. The Bobcats knocked-off No. 6 Sacred Heart University 16-11 and the Broncs beat No. 5 Niagara University 16-11.
 
No. 7 Quinnipiac – 16 | No. 6 Sacred Heart – 11
Hickey Field | LOUDONVILLE, NY
Box Score
 
The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair, with neither team grabbing an advantage larger than one goal. By the end of the period, Sacred Heart led 5-4. The seesaw matchup continued with the score being knotted at 6-6, before Quinnipiac opened a three-goal rally to go up 9-6 at the mid-point of the second quarter. The Bobcats extended their advantage to 13-9 at the end of the third, but the Pioneers were able to cut the deficit to two with a pair of early goals in the fourth, but one last three goal run from the Bobcats sealed the victory.
 
Quinnipiac Notes and Notables
  • Mia Delmond led the Bobcats with a quintet of goals and an assist, giving her 48 goals on the campaign.
  • Abby Wise had a five-point day, scoring three goals and handing out two assists.
  • A trio of Bobcats scored two goals apiece (Emma Miller-Ayala, Peyton Choma, and Cate Bendowski).
  • Anna Givens grabbed a career-best five draw controls while also adding her 20th goal of the season.
  • The Bobcats had a shots advantage (29-20) and shots on goal edge (22-16).
  • Quinnipiac held slim edges in ground balls (20-18) and on the draw circle (16-12).
  • Quinnipiac's 10 wins are tied for the most since 2011.
  • Quinnipiac advances in the MAAC Championship for the second time in the last three seasons.
 
Sacred Heart Notes and Notables
  • Shae Insinga and Jamie Tanner led the Pioneers with three points each.
  • Insinga’s points came from three goals, while Tanner ‘s points were from two goals and one assist.
  • Aidan Carlson added two points, scoring one goal and one assist, with two ground balls and three caused turnovers.
  • Leah Durkin won seven draw controls and had one caused turnover.
     
No. 8 Rider – 16 | No. 5 Niagara – 11
Mazzella Field | NEW ROCHELLE, NY
Box Score

The Broncs secured their first MAAC Championship win in program history, defeating Niagara 16-11. Rider never trailed but the game remained tight in the opening half, with the Broncs leading 5-4 after one and then 8-7 at the half. Rider outscored Niagara 8-4 in the second half, highlighted by a decisive 6-0 run to end the third quarter (4 goals) and start the fourth period (2 goals) leading to the win.
 
Rider Notes and Notables
  • Rider had three individuals with hat tricks.
  • Katie Walsh led the Broncs with five goals for her 11th hat trick of the season, and her 18th as Bronc.
  • Elena Bontatibus recorded her fifth hat trick of the season and sixth of her career, scoring four times in the game.
  • Anna Devlin added three goals for her third hat trick of the year and fifth as a Bronc.
  • Toni Gismondi set a career-high and program record with six assists.
  • Jamie Kubach got the start in net, playing all 60 minutes, and making 11 saves to earn the win.
  • Rider outshot Niagara, 32-27 and finished with 22 shots on goal.
  • The Broncs held an advantage in draw controls (21-9).
  • The MAAC Championship victory for the Broncs was the first in program history, in just their second season as a program.
 
Niagara Notes and Notables
  • Maddy Gill was the top goal scorer with six goals, recording her sixth consecutive hat-trick and ninth of the season.
  • Michaela Delles tallied her ninth hat-trick of the season with three goals and added one assist.
  • Melanie Steigerwald recorded a career-high four points with her four assists in the contest.
  • The Purple Eagles also recorded 22 shots on goal.
  • Niagara held advantages in caused turnovers (19-13) and ground balls (23-14).
 
The 2025 MAAC Women's Lacrosse Championship will resume with the second round on Sunday, April 27. No. 3 Siena will host Quinnipiac and No. 4 Iona will host Rider in the round with both games starting at noon.
 
For all information regarding the 2025 MAAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship, please visit maacsports.com/wlax.
 
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 13 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 44th year of competition during the 2024-25 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan University, Marist University, Merrimack College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Sacred Heart University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.
 
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