Box Score
The 12th-ranked Moccasins overcame a four-goal deficit and Danielle LaDuca scored the game-winning goal with 27 seconds left as Florida Southern defeated Mercy 9-8 Tuesday night at Bryant Stadium. With the win the Moccasins improve to 7-1, while Mercy falls to 0-4.
The Mavericks scored the first four goals of the contest, including two by Kristen Znaniecki, to take a 4-0 lead with 15:44 left in the first half. The Moccasins started to rally, as Alexa Caffrey converted a free position shot to cut the led to 4-1. On the ensuing draw, Maureen Cromer picked up the draw control, drove down the right side of the field and circled around the cage and scored her first goal of the game. Less than a minute later, Cromer knocked the ball out of goalie Stephanie DiLegge’s stick into the goal to cut the deficit to 4-3 with 13:33 left.
Marissa Hurley extended the Mavericks led to 5-3, before Cromer scored twice more to even the score 5-5 at the half. Cromer tied a career high four goals, which she had set against Lindenwood to open this season.
Mercy struck first in the second half, as Znaniecki connected with Julie Darnulc for a goal. Mara Mason and Caitlin Chase scored back-to-back goals to give the Moccasins their first lead of the game with 18:23 remaining. Mercy evened the score at 7-7 on an unassisted goal by Darnulc. The two teams traded goals to even the score 8-8 with 7:29 left in the second half. The score remained that way until 27 seconds left when LaDuca picked up a ground ball in Moccasin territory and brought it up the right side of the field and scored her 16th goal of the season to give the Mocs the 9-8 win.
Cromer led the Moccasins with four goals and three draw controls, while Lorianne Hoover and Caffrey each tallied a goal and an assist.
Katie Gladhill led the Moccasin defense with five caused turnovers and seven ground balls. Katie Hammerer finished the game with nine saves and improved her record to 7-1.
Florida Southern returns to Bryant Stadium Saturday against Lenoir-Rhyne. Game time is 12:00 p.m.
