LE MOYNE (6-6, 5-2) vs. Central Connecticut State (2-9, 2-5)
Saturday, Apr. 10 - 3:00 p.m.
Arute Field - New Britain, Conn.
Video: NEC Front Row
Live Stats: https://www.ccsubluedevils.com/sports/wlax/2023-24/boxscores/20240410_8zj1.xml
 
Syracuse, N.Y. – The Le Moyne women's lacrosse team looks to get its sixth conference win when it travels to Central Connecticut State on Wednesday afternoon. The two sides have previously faced off twice, with Le Moyne winning both. The Dolphins downed Central Connecticut State in both 2005 and 2006. Both wins were by at least seven goals.
 
Central Connecticut State has struggled in 2024. The Blue Devils have just two wins, which were both in the NEC. CCSU downed Howard for its first victory on March 6. The Blue Devils' most recent win came against FDU on March 23. Central Connecticut State has lost three straight and six of its last seven contests. The Blue Devils have scored under ten goals in all but three games.
 
CCSU's non-conference schedule includes losses to Rider, Lafayette, Yale, and Presbyterian. In the NEC, the Blue Devils have fallen to Delaware State, Wagner, Merrimack, Stonehill, and Saint Francis. Le Moyne is 3-1 against those conference opponents. Central Connecticut State's last three losses are by an average of nearly 13 goals.
 
Junior midfielder Talie Richardson leads the Blue Devils with 14 goals. Richardson also ranks second in both assists (seven) and points (23). She scored a season-high five goals and six points against Howard. Richardson has been quiet as of late, going scoreless in her last two contests.
 
Senior attacker Lauren Valluzzi tops Central Connecticut State in points, tallying 29. Valluzzi has 14 goals and 15 assists in 2024. She also leads the Blue Devils with 45 shot attempts. Valluzzi scored her only hat-trick of the year against Wagner on March 16. She dominated against Howard as well, dishing out seven assists in the win.
 
Central Connecticut State has had troubles offensively this season. The Blue Devils rank towards the bottom for goals per game in the NEC and are fourth-worst in goals against. CCSU also sits in the bottom three in shots, shots on goal, and assists per game.
 
Le Moyne bounced back in its last game, downing Delaware State 13-6. The win broke a two-game skid for the Dolphins. It was Le Moyne's first time scoring in double figures since its win over FDU on March 27. The Dolphins have also limited opponents to under nine goals in four of their last five contests.
 
Senior attacker Sarah Hutchings led all players with three goals in the win. Hutchings took just four shots, directing all on net. It was her fourth time scoring a hat-trick in 2024. Hutchings also picked up a ground ball against Delaware State.
 
Three Le Moyne players also scored two goals on Saturday. Reagan McQuade, Rhonee Shea Pal and Grace Detor all found the back of the net twice. McQuade, a junior, co-led the Dolphins with six shots. Pal, a senior, also grabbed three ground balls and caused a turnover. Detor, a junior, scored on each of her shots on goal. In total, eight different Le Moyne were on the scoresheet. Junior defender Katherine Amico led the defensive unit with career highs of six caused turnovers (tied a single-game program record) and five ground balls.
 
Following the game against Delaware State, Le Moyne plays its final home game against Wagner on Saturday, April 13. The Dolphins then head on the road and close out the season at Vermont, Howard, and the University at Albany.