Recap: Gilbert nets 4 goals, 205 points in pro debut
SPARKS, Md. – New year, same stellar performance from attacker Sam Apuzzo.
After surging to the No. 3 position on the leaderboard during Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse’s inaugural season a summer ago, the former Boston College standout was at her best again in Thursday night’s opener, striking for two goals and four assists while leading her squad to a 14-10 victory over Team Glynn at USA Lacrosse Headquarters.
Apuzzo, who finished the 2021 campaign with 1,685 leaderboard points, opened her 2022 account with 179 leaderboard points, which included 30 points as the MVP 2 selection.
Midfielder Amanda Johansen added 155 leaderboard points in the win for Team Apuzzo. While she only registered one goal, she used three ground balls, two caused turnovers and a game-high six draw controls to build her total.
Rookie attacker Lauren Gilbert, who earned MVP 1 honors, added a game-high four goals in a winning effort, while rookie midfielder Ally Mastroianni netted three goals in the loss for Team Glynn.
KEY MOMENT
After the teams traded a pair of goals to open the contest, Team Apuzzo scored five of the next six goals to take a 7-3 lead on a marker by midfielder Alyssa Parrella with 6:03 remaining in the second quarter. Team Apuzzo never trailed by fewer than three points in the second half to secure the first win of the young season.
GAME NOTES
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Apuzzo extended her goal scoring streak to 16 consecutive games, dating back to last season … However, her streak of six straight hat tricks came to an end after being limited to two goals on six shots.
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Apuzzo matched her Athletes Unlimited career high with her six-point outing … She also had six points against Team Wood on July 31, 2021, after scoring five goals with one assist.
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Apuzzo notched her 12th multi-goal game in Athletes Unlimited play.
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Attacker Halle Majorana registered the first hat trick of her Athletes Unlimited career after scoring three goals in the loss for Team Glynn … The former Syracuse standout also authored her fourth career multi-goal effort.
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Both teams started rookie goalkeepers in the contest … Taylor Moreno notched six saves in just under 27 minutes for Team Apuzzo, while Paulina DiFatta tallied two stops in just under 14 minutes of action.
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Johansen scored the first two-point goal of the season, converting a feed from rookie attacker Sam Geiersbach with 4:05 left in the second quarter.
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Team Glynn outshot Team Apuzzo, 27-26, but was edged out on draw controls by a 14-13 margin.
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Neither team attempted a free position shot in the contest.
GAME MVPS
- #1 – Lauren Gilbert (Team Apuzzo, +45)
- #2 – Sam Apuzzo (Team Apuzzo, +30)
- #3 – Ally Mastroianni (Team Glynn, +15)
