Recap: Team Moreno fends off second half rally by Team Mastroianni, 7-6

But, Team Mastroianni made things difficult before ultimately succumbing to the team clad in Gold by a 7-6 count at USA Lacrosse Headquarters.

Goalkeeper Taylor Moreno earned her second consecutive MVP 1 award after notching nine saves in the win along with a caused turnover and a ground ball. Moreno, who set a league record with 257 leaderboard points in Thursday’s win, added another 155 points to her account on Saturday.

Midfielder Marie McCool secured MVP 2 recognition following a two-goal, one-assist performance. McCool also tallied a game-high five draw controls and ended the afternoon with 143 leaderboard points.

Midfielder Haley Warden completed the MVP trifecta with two goals, three ground balls and two caused turnovers to collect 124 leaderboard points for Team Moreno, which has allowed just 10 goals in its two victories.

Attacker Sam Geiersbach paced Team Mastroianni in the loss with three goals, while three other players contributed a goal. Goalkeepers Caylee Waters and Sarah Reznick combined to make seven saves in the cage.

KEY MOMENT

Team Moreno surged to a 5-0 lead in the first 18 minutes of the game, including two goals from attacker Kenzie Kent. Team Mastroianni narrowed the gap to 7-6 with 5.2 seconds left in regulation and won the ensuing draw control, but was unable to score the tying goal.

LEADERBOARD IMPACT

Moreno holds a 126-point advantage over goalkeeper Britt Read entering Sunday’s finale while Warden rose into third place with 257 points. McCool stands fifth on the leaderboard after moving up 18 positions and has 232 points to her credit.

GAME NOTES

• Team Mastroianni and Team Moreno combined to accumulate four assists during Saturday’s second game, increasing the league’s total to 26 assists through four games … Aspiration is committed to planting 10 trees for every assist this season as part of its ‘Aspiration Assists’ initiative.

• Team Moreno initiated a challenge on midfielder Grace Griffin’s goal with 5.2 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, which was unsuccessful … Teams are now 0-for-3 in challenges this season.

• Team Mastroianni and Team Moreno played the first tied quarter of the season after each squad netted two goals in the second quarter … Team Mastroianni claimed the rollover points in the third period as a result of Geiersbach’s goal with 8:20 remaining in the frame.

• Kent now owns 15 career multi-goal games after scoring two goals in the first half.

• Attacker TT Naslonski netted the first goal of her Athletes Unlimited career with 1:23 remaining in the first half, converting a pass from attacker Charlotte North.

• Geiersbach notched her second career Athletes Unlimited hat trick after scoring three goals in the loss for Team Mastroianni on Saturday … Her other hat trick came against Team Colson on August 6, 2022, with a three-goal performance.

• Moreno registered nine saves in the win on Saturday, marking just the third time in her Athletes Unlimited career she has failed to notch 10 or more saves.

GAME MVPS

• #1 – Taylor Moreno (Team Moreno, +45)
• #2 – Marie McCool (Team Moreno, +30)
• #3 – Haley Warden (Team Moreno, +15)