Recap: McMahon, Kennedy pilot Team Read offense in 14-10 win

Using goals from six different players, Team Read closed out the opening week of the 2023 Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse season with back-to-back wins after securing a 14-10 victory over Team Mastroianni to open Sunday’s doubleheader at USA Lacrosse Headquarters.

Attacker Izzy McMahon and midfielder Ally Kennedy each registered a hat trick to lead the charge for Team Read. McMahon, the game’s MVP 1 selection, netted four goals, including a two-pointer, with an assist to end with 144 leaderboard points. Meanwhile, Kennedy was the MVP 2 pick after posting three goals with an assist in addition to six draw controls, finishing with a game-high 154 leaderboard points.

Goalkeeper Britt Read authored seven saves in the victory with a caused turnover.

Rookie midfielder Katie Ramsay earned the first MVP honor of her brief Athletes Unlimited career after claiming MVP 3 recognition. The former USC product scored twice and added an assist to end the opening week with 92 leaderboard points.

KEY MOMENT

Led by two goals from attacker Andie Aldave, Team Read sprinted to a 5-1 lead in the game’s opening 11 minutes. Team Mastroianni trimmed the margin to 10-8 in the closing seconds of the third quarter on a goal by attacker Charlotte North, but was unable to get any closer.

LEADERBOARD IMPACT

Read moved into second place on the leaderboard after closing her opening week with 118 points in the victory, giving her 404 points through three games. Midfielder Lindsey McKone made a large jump up the leaderboard, rising 18 spots to hold fifth place with 298 points.

GAME NOTES

• Team Read and Team Mastroianni teamed up to record 12 assists in Sunday’s opener, upping the league’s season total to 38 assists through five games … Aspiration is committed to planting 10 trees for every assist this season as part of its ‘Aspiration Assists’ initiative.

• Team Read outshot Team Mastroianni, 30-25, and held a 15-12 advantage in ground balls … The teams each registered 13 draw controls in the contest.

• Midfielder Dempsey Arsenault notched a season-high seven draw controls in the loss for Team Mastroianni.

• McMahon registered four goals in a game for the second time in her Athletes Unlimited career … She also netted four goals against Team Wood on August 16, 2021.

• McMahon joined attacker Sam Apuzzo as the only players with a four-goal game this season.

• Kennedy notched her fourth career Athletes Unlimited hat trick with a three-goal effort against Team Mastroianni on Sunday afternoon.

• North posted her eighth career Athletes Unlimited hat trick after notching three goals in the loss for Team Mastroianni … She tallied a hat trick in 7-of-12 games during her rookie season.

GAME MVPS

• #1 – Izzy McMahon (Team Read, +45)
• #2 – Katie Ramsay (Team Mastroianni, +30)
• #3 – Ally Kennedy (Team Read, +15)