Women's Lacrosse Game Preview: Niagara, Denver

NEWARK, Del. - Delaware's women's lacrosse heads out west to play Niagara and No. 6 nationally ranked Denver in Denver, Colo. On Saturday, March 11 and Monday, March 13.

What You Need to Know:

Delaware was off to a 4-1 start before falling to Georgetown on March 4. It was their best five-game start to the season since 2016 when they also started 4-1, and eventually won eight of their first nine games.
Morgan Gore has scored a goal in six consecutive games to begin her career, the longest streak a Blue Hen in over 14 years. She is also the first Delaware freshman to score a goal in six consecutive games since McKenzie Rafferty in 2013. No Delaware freshman has scored a goal in seven consecutive games since Cailtin McCartney in 2012.
Megan Bozzi had a breakout game against UMBC, as the Coastal Carolina transfer scored her first three-career goals as a Blue Hen. Her hat trick was the ninth of her collegiate career, and her with Delaware. She now has 89 points for her career.
Against UMBC, McCarthy became the first Delaware player to allow fewer than 10 goals and save at least 10 shots since Kate Brewster on March 4, 2020 against Duquesne.
Delaware had a player score at least three goals in a game in their first five games to start the season (Livornese vs Lafayette, Lehigh, Temple, Gore vs Lafayette, Bozzi vs UMBC).
From Feb. 22-March 1 against Temple, Old Dominion, and UMBC, Delaware allowed fewer than 10 goals in three consecutive games for the first time since March 23-31, against UConn, Oregon, and Louisville.
Against Old Dominion, an 18-9 win, Delaware had 26 draw controls, a new program record and equaling Virginia's, Butler's, UMBC's, and Stetson's game-high in the NCAA this season. Danielle Livornese recorded 12 of the draw controls, tying the Delaware program record only done by Caroline Farley on March 27, 2019 against Oregon and on March 16, 2019 against Saint Joseph's.
Delaney McDaniel, the reigning CAA Rookie of the Year, has two six-assist games. She and Mary Schumar of Marquette are the only players in the NCAA this season with two such games. Her seven assists against Lafayette were tied for the fourth most in program history, while her six against Old Dominion were the seventh most.
Livornese started the season by scoring at least three goals in four consecutive games, the first UD player to begin the season with four-straight three-goal games since Becky Gohsler in 2017.
Madison Hranicka is one of three CAA players so far this year with at least 15 caused turnovers (18) and 10 ground balls (11).
Denver head coach Liza Kelly was a former standout midfielder at Delaware, earning All-America honors in 1996, 1997 and 1998. She played for the United States National team from 1997-2001. Kelly was inducted into the University of Delaware Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008. She currently ranks 15th in career ground balls and fifth in career games played at Delaware. Delaware won two straight American East Championships with Kelly, and she was named the Delaware Outstanding Senior Female Athlete of the Year and the NCAA Woman of the Year for the state of Delaware following the 1997-98 season.

CAA/NCAA Team Rankings

Assists per game: 2nd, 31st in NCAA (6.17)
Caused turnovers per game: 2nd, 24th in NCAA (9.83)
Clearing percentage: 1st, 31st in NCAA (.887)
Draw control percentage: 1st, 8th in NCAA (.628)
Draw controls per game: 1st, 21st in NCAA (15.50)
Ground balls per game: 3rd, 33rd in NCAA (17.67)
Scoring defense: 3rd, 31st in NCAA (9.67)
Scoring margin: 3rd, 50 in NCAA (3.25)

CAA/NCAA Individual Rankings

Assists: Delaney McDaniel - 1st, 5th in NCAA (19)
Assists per game: Delaney McDaniel - 1st, 6th in NCAA (3.17)
Caused turnovers per game: Madison Hranicka - 1st, 9th in NCAA (2.50)
Draw controls per game: Danielle Livornese - 4th, 46th in NCAA (5.17)
Goals against average: Mercy McCarthy - 3rd, 27th in NCAA (9.80)
Save percentage: Mercy McCarthy - 2nd, 61st in NCAA (.447)
Saves: Mercy McCarthy - 3rd, 44th in NCAA (46)

How to Follow
Saturday vs Niagara: Live Stats
Monday vs Denver: Live Stats | Live Video

Up Next: Delaware begins conference play with a matchup with No. 4 nationally-ranked Stony Brook on the road on March 18.

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Players Mentioned

Megan Bozzi

Morgan Gore

Madison Hranicka

Danielle Livornese

Mercy McCarthy

Delaney McDaniel

University of Delaware Athletics