WASHINGTON (March 18, 2023) – Howard University women's lacrosse team dropped its Northeast Conference (NEC) opener to Merrimack (MC), 18-4, at Greene Stadium.
 
Senior Quai Skeete-Ridley (New Carrollton, Md.) led the way with a pair of goals, along with three draw controls and two caused turnovers, in the setback.
 
MC (2-7, 1-0 NEC) scored the first seven goals until rookie Berkeley Clayborne (Highland Park, Ill.) ended HU's scoring drought on a free position shot to close the opening frame, 7-1.
 
MC's Georgia Parker made her presence felt in the second period, scoring the Warriors' first three goals and extending the margin, 10-1.
 
At the 11:35 mark, Skeete-Ridley scored on an unassisted goal to close the gap, 10-2, but Merrimack ended the half with three unanswered goals, 13-2.
 
Clayborne found Skeete-Ridley for her second score of the day and trimmed the deficit moments after intermission, 13-3, but the Warriors' responded with another 3-0 run to end the third period, 16-3.
 
With less than six minutes and down a man, senior Madison Joines (Winston-Salem, N.C.) found the back of the cage to end HU's scoring on the afternoon.
 
Freshman Chase Coleman (Houston) racked up a team-best three ground balls.
 
Defensively, second-year Bison Anya Waller (King of Prussia, Pa.) had eight saves while fifth-year senior Andrea Fievre (Snellville, Ga.) forced four turnovers in the loss.
 
For Merrimack, Parker finished with nine points (six goals & three assists), followed by eight points (five goals & three assists) from Samantha Speiler.
 
Saturday (March 25), HU (0-8, 0-1 NEC) travels to Teaneck, N.J., to face Fairleigh Dickinson. Match time is slated for 1 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.