NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (March 26, 2022) – Howard University women's lacrosse team fell in its Northeast Conference (NEC) opener at Merrimack College (MC), 17-6.
 
With the setback, HU dropped to 1-9 (0-1 NEC) while the Warriors earned their first win of the season (1-6, 1-0 NEC).
 
MC jumped out to an early 3-0 advantage, but junior Quai Skeete-Ridley (New Carrollton, Md.) scored on an unassisted goal to get Howard on the board, 3-1. A late goal from Merrimack's Catherine Mahanna gave the Warriors a 4-1 edge after one.
 
Newcomer Taylor Matthews (Tampa) scored off an assist from third-year Bison Heidi Chicas (Hyattsville, Md.) in the second period, 5-2, but MC recorded five unanswered goals and took a commanding 10-2 advantage at the break.
 
After intermission, Skeete-Ridley found graduate Lailah Robey (Chesapeake Beach, Md.) for the Bison's third goal of the contest.
 
In the fourth, junior Josie Mallory (Charlottesville, Va.) and Sydney Kates (Cleveland) scored back-to-back goals for HU and cut the margin to nine, 14-5, but the Warriors tallied three straight goals to pull away.
 
With under a minute to go, Kates delivered her second goal on the match.
 
Skeete-Ridley finished with five draw controls, a goal and assist in the loss.
 
For MC, Mahanna Taylor Darrell and Meghan Dzialo each produced three goals in the win.
 
Wednesday (March 30), Howard ends its four-match road trip at Saint Francis (Pa.). First draw is slated for 2 p.m. in Loretta, Pa.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.