Recap: Charlotte North nets four goals to lead Team Moreno in 9-5 win

Attacker Charlotte North erupted for four goals, including a two-point marker, to secure MVP 1 honors in leading Team Moreno to the victory. North, who had scored just four goals in her three games during Week One, ended the night with 168 leaderboard points.

Defender Abby Bosco followed with the MVP 2 designation after registering a game-high seven draw controls to earn 171 leaderboard points. Goalkeeper Taylor Moreno garnered MVP 3 notice following a nine-save performance while conceding just five goals, including three over the final three quarters.

Midfielder Ally Mastroianni paced Team Colson in the loss with three goals, while attacker Andie Aldave added a pair of markers. Goalkeeper Caylee Waters tallied a season-high 11 saves for Team Colson, which was outshot by a 25-21 margin.

KEY MOMENT

After allowing two goals in the first three minutes of the game, Team Moreno scored six of the next seven goals to take a 6-3 advantage with 4:17 remaining in the third quarter. A trio of players, including North, attacker Kenzie Kent and midfielder Katie O’Donnell, each struck twice during the outburst.

LEADERBOARD IMPACT

Moreno reclaimed her spot atop the leaderboard with 653 points after notching her fifth career 200-point performance. The reigning Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse champion enters Saturday’s action with a 47-point edge over attacker Sam Apuzzo and a 155-point cushion over Bosco, who moved into third place in the league standings.

GAME NOTES

• Team Moreno and Team Colson combined to tally one assist in Thursday’s nightcap, raising the league’s season total to 52 assists through eight games … Aspiration is committed to planting 10 trees for every assist this season as part of its ‘Aspiration Assists’ initiative.

• Team Moreno initiated a captain’s challenge on North’s goal with 3:43 remaining in the fourth quarter to determine whether it was a one-point or two-point goal … The challenge was successful and North was awarded a two-point goal.

• Team Moreno registered the 13th win points sweep in Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse history, including the third sweep this season.

• North authored her 13th career multi-goal performance, including the ninth hat trick of her Athletes Unlimited career … She also registered her 11th career two-point goal, which stands as the most by any player in league history.

• O’Donnell finished the night with the eighth multi-goal game of her Athletes Unlimited career after scoring twice in the victory for Team Moreno.

• With her two goals in Thursday’s victory, Kent posted her 16th career multi-goal game, which ties midfielder Marie McCool for second place on the league’s all-time ledger.

• Mastroianni earned her sixth career multi-goal effort, including the fourth hat trick of her Athletes Unlimited tenure.

• Aldave has posted a multi-goal effort three times in her Athletes Unlimited career after her two-goal performance on Thursday night.

• Waters registered 11 saves in the loss for Team Colson, marking the sixth time she has furnished double-digit saves in a game during her Athletes Unlimited career.

GAME MVPS

• #1 – Charlotte North (Team Moreno, +45)
• #2 – Abby Bosco (Team Moreno, +30)
• #3 – Taylor Moreno (Team Moreno, +15)