KINGS POINT, N.Y. (March 7, 2026) - The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy women's lacrosse team opened the 2026 season with a dominant 23-0 victory over Old Westbury on Saturday afternoon at Brooks Stadium. The Mariners improve to 1-0 overall (1-0 Skyline), while the Panthers fall to 0-1 (0-1 Skyline).
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The Blue and Gray produced an offensive explosion on the afternoon as seven different players found the back of the net and five recorded multi-goal performances. Junior Grace Picozzi (Collegeville, Pa.) led the way with seven points on five goals and two assists, while also grabbing a team-high nine draw controls. Freshmen Sarah Litz (Westminster, Md.) and Isabelle Perry (Atlanta, Ga.) delivered strong collegiate debuts with six points each as Litz tallied five goals and an assist and Perry registered a team-high five assists and a goal.
Sophomores Lana Hayes (Toms River, N.J.) and Leslie Wysong (Mount Pleasant, S.C.) each found the back of the net four times, while classmate Reese Ripley (Denver, Colo.) added three goals and secured six draw controls. Sophomore Amber Fields (St. Augustine, Fla.) contributed four points on a goal and three assists.
Hayes and Ripley led the Mariners with four ground balls apiece, while Wysong and Hayes paced the defensive effort with a game-high four caused turnovers each. Sophomore Meghan Shippos (Bow, N.H.) and Fields also added two caused turnovers apiece. In net, the duo of senior Karianna Eagle (Little Egg Harbor Township, N.J.) and freshman Ava Booker (Tampa, Fla.) split the load evenly, with neither net minder facing a single shot the entire afternoon.
Merchant Marine controlled the game statistically from start to finish, outshooting Old Westbury 49-0, including a 38-0 advantage in shots on goal. The Mariners also held a 23-12 edge in ground balls and forced 27 Old Westbury turnovers while committing just 12 of their own. The Blue and Gray were also efficient in transition, successfully clearing all six of their clearing attempts, while the Panthers converted just 4-of-25 clears in the contest.
The Mariners burst out of the gate, scoring the first eight goals of the game in the opening nine and a half minutes of the first quarter to seize immediate control. The Blue and Gray built a 10-0 advantage after the first period and carried a 13-0 lead into halftime, before continuing their offensive surge in the second half to secure the 23-0 victory.
Jara Gonzalez made 15 saves for Old Westbury in the loss.
KP heads to the Sunshine State for the first game of their spring break trip on Monday, March 9, against RIT at 11 a.m. at Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex in Clearwater, Florida.
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