Recap: Moreno saves 10, earns 241 points for No. 1 spot
SPARKS, Md. — The only thing that might have gone wrong for Team Apuzzo during the opening week of the 2022 Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse season is the fact the team will not get to play together again in Week Two.
Another dominating performance on Sunday afternoon allowed Team Apuzzo to take a strong hold on the top of the leaderboard after a 10-5 victory over Team Waters to close out the Week One schedule at USA Lacrosse Headquarters.
Goalkeeper Taylor Moreno had a record-setting performance while anchoring Team Apuzzo’s defensive effort. The rookie netminder from the University of North Carolina leapt to the top of the leaderboard after securing an Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse single-game record 241 leaderboard points, including the game’s MVP 1 designation.
Midfielder Amanda Johansen also put together an impressive finish to her opening week with 213 points, including the MVP 2 distinction, after netting three goals, including a two-pointer, with two ground balls, a caused turnover and two draw controls.
Attacker Nicole Levy completed the MVP sweep after registering 176 points on the strength of three goals and three assists.
Led by Moreno, who tallied 10 saves with a caused turnover and a ground ball, Team Apuzzo limited Team Waters to just five goals, including two in the second half.
Midfielder Marie McCool paced Team Waters in the loss with two goals and one assist, while attacker Alex Aust Holman added a goal and an assist. Goalkeeper and team captain Caylee Waters notched eight saves in the setback.
KEY MOMENT
Team Apuzzo sprinted to a 3-0 lead in the game’s opening seven minutes and never looked back. The squad led by just one point after back-to-back markers from Team Waters, but a two-point goal from Johansen extended the advantage to 5-2.
LEADERBOARD IMPACT
Moreno’s record-setting performance vaulted her to the top of the leaderboard with 581 points after the first week of the season. Johansen stands in second place with 576 points, while Sam Apuzzo and midfielder Dempsey Arsenault follow in third and fourth places, respectively.
GAME NOTES
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Team Apuzzo becomes the fourth team in Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse history to complete a three-game sweep in a single week … The squad also went an impressive 11-1 in quarter wins, racking up 355 total win points.
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Team Apuzzo allowed just 10 points in its final two games, giving up five points in each contest against Team Read and Team Waters.
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Apuzzo ran her goal scoring streak to 18 consecutive games with her tally in the fourth quarter … However, her streak of eight consecutive multi-goal efforts came to an end.
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Levy has scored a goal in 15 straight games after finishing with her three-goal performance … She also recorded her third career hat trick.
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Levy’s three assists also matched a personal single-game high … She also finished with six points (three goals, three assists) to set a career high.
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Johansen authored her second straight hat trick in the victory, giving her five career multi-goal games.
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McCool registered her second multi-goal game of the season with two goals.
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Team Apuzzo outshot Team Waters, 27-26, and held a 12-10 advantage on ground balls.
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Team Waters owned a 10-8 advantage in ground balls.
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Team Apuzzo was a perfect 22-of-22 in clear attempts, while Team Waters was 16-for-19.
GAME MVPS
- #1 – Taylor Moreno (Team Apuzzo, +45)
- #2 – Amanda Johansen (Team Apuzzo, +30)
- #3 – Nicole Levy (Team Apuzzo, +15)
