Recap: Team Apuzzo hangs on against Team Mastroianni in season opener

Eric Rhew

Jul 20, 2023

SPARKS, Md. — In the first two seasons of Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse, attacker Sam Apuzzo was always ready to play the role of hero. Her first game of the 2023 campaign proved once again why she is one of the best with the game on the line.

Apuzzo scored three of her four goals in the second half to pilot her team to an 11-10 victory over Team Mastroianni in the opening game of the season at USA Lacrosse Headquarters on Thursday evening.

The league’s all-time leader in goals and points, Apuzzo notched a game-high five points on four goals and an assist to secure MVP 1 honors and finish with 162 leaderboard points. Goalkeeper Kady Glynn, meanwhile, garnered MVP 3 recognition on the strength of 11 saves to claim 127 leaderboard points.

Defender Katrina Geiger claimed MVP 2 distinction in the loss for Team Mastroianni after authoring three caused turnovers and three ground balls to earn 122 leaderboard points. Four different players tallied two goals in the setback.

KEY MOMENT

Trailing by a 9-8 margin to begin the fourth quarter, Team Apuzzo rattled off three consecutive goals, including a pair by Apuzzo, to claim an 11-9 lead with 5:00 left. Midfielder Dempsey Arsenault closed the gap to 11-10 with a goal off a turnover with 37 seconds remaining, but Team Mastroianni was unable to get any closer.

LEADERBOARD IMPACT

Apuzzo claimed the early advantage on the leaderboard after her 162-point performance while midfielder Katie O’Donnell followed with 135 points after scoring two goals with four ground balls, two draw controls and two caused turnovers.

GAME NOTES

Team Apuzzo and Team Mastroianni combined to record six assists during the season opener … Aspiration is committed to planting 10 trees for every assist during the season as part of its ‘Aspiration Assists’ initiative.
Team Mastroianni challenged a goal by attacker Lauren Gilbert with 7:50 remaining in the fourth quarter for a dangerous follow through … The challenge was unsuccessful.
Team Mastroianni set an Athletes Unlimited single-game record with 15 caused turnovers in Thursday’s loss to Team Apuzzo … The previous standard was 13 caused turnovers, which was done twice.
Apuzzo has registered a point in all 28 games of her Athletes Unlimited career … In addition, she has netted at least one goal in 27-of-28 career appearances.
Apuzzo also notched the 12th hat trick of her Athletes Unlimited career, extending her league record.
Attacker Sam Geiersbach led all players with eight shots in the loss for Team Mastroianni.