Kings Point, NY - The USMMA women's lacrosse team welcomed the newest member of the Landmark Conference to Brooks Stadium Saturday afternoon as the Elizabethtown Blue Jays secured a 12-8 victory over the Mariners.  Addie Stang tallied five goals for the visitors while Shannen Dunn (Bourne, MA) and Emily Finnin (Littleton, CO) both had two markers for the home team.  Kelly Allison (Palos Verdes, CA) made nine saves between the pipes but the Blue Jays outshot the Mariners, 31-21.  

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (1-7, 0-4 Landmark) grabbed a 2-1 lead early in the first half following back-to-back goals from Grace Mariani (Amherst, NY) and Alexandra Winfree (Millstone, NJ).  However, the Blue Jays scored six of the next seven goals to build a 7-3 advantage, capped by a Jessica Binnig tally with 36 seconds left in the half.  A Jordan Pappas (Howell, NJ) sent USMMA into halftime on positive note, beating the goal keeper with two seconds to go in the period to make it 7-4 at the intermission.

The Mariners surged out of the gates in the second half, netting three straight goals to knot the affair at 7-7.  Finnin supplied the opening tally of the half while back-to-back free position goals from Dunn tied the game.  

Elizabethtown (1-10, 1-4 Landmark) took control from there by registering four unanswered goals. Amelia LaFiguera (Ogden, UT) trimmed the USMMA deficit to 11-8 with 11:05 left in regulation but the Mariners would be unable to score again.  The Blue Jays kept USMMA off-balance by forcing 20 turnovers and limiting the Mariners to 7-of-19 on clear attempts.

Mariani anchored the USMMA defense with four caused turnovers while Dunn scooped up five ground balls.  Krissy Pennell had a solid game for the Blue Jays defense with five caused turnovers and six ground balls.  Elizabethtown was able to successfully stall out the clock down the stretch to secure the 12-8 decision.

The USMMA women's lacrosse team returns to action Monday night at Brooks Stadium against Maritime (NY) for a 7:30 PM contest.