No. 2 Lock Haven Foils Gannon's Upset Bid
from press release
ERIE, Pa. - The No. 2 Lock Haven women's lacrosse team led
Wednesday's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western
Division showdown against No. 9 Gannon for only two minutes and 59
seconds, but its lead over the final 19 seconds was all that
counted.
The undefeated Bald Eagles snapped a 15-15 tie with two goals in
the final 19 seconds and held off Gannon's upset bid with a 17-15
victory at Gannon University Field.
Gannon took the fight to Lock Haven from the opening face-off. The
Lady Knights assumed a 3-0 lead on goals from Kayla Nelson (Oswego,
N.Y./Oswego), Rachel DerCola (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton) and Mary
Eshenour (Waterloo, N.Y./Waterloo) in the first four minutes and 31
seconds.
Sarah Grzybinski's (New Market, Md./Linganore) score at the 12:57
mark pushed the Gannon lead to 6-2, before Lock Haven responded
with three consecutive goals. Back-to-back unassisted scores from
Jaimie Uzialko and Leigh Titus brought the Bald Eagles within
6-5.
The momentum swings continued with consecutive goals from Jess
Fugate (Wooster, Ohio/Wooster). Elyse Fisher countered with two
tallies of her own. Emily Cilia's goal with 35 seconds left in the
half capped a mini 3-0 Lock Haven run and sent the two teams to the
intermission tied at eight.
Lock Haven assumed its first lead of the match on Kayleigh
Johnson's goal 21 seconds into the second half. However, the lead
lasted only 1:58 until Taryn Millerd (Shortsville, N.Y./Midlakes)
tied the match at nine. Her goal ignited a 4-0 Gannon run. Fugate's
third score of the match gave the Lady Knights 12-9 advantage with
23:59 to play.
Lock Haven battled back again with a 4-1 blitz, tying the contest
at 13 on Fisher's fourth goal of the match with 9:14 remaining. The
match was tied again at 14 and 15. The Bald Eagles gained their
second lead of the afternoon with 3:12 showing on the clock.
Forty-two seconds later, Eshenour knotted the affair at 15 off an
assist from Nelson. It set up a dramatic finish that could have
ended multiple ways. Acacia Cook (Syracuse, N.Y./Cicero North
Syracuse) made a great save on Johnson's free-position shot with 43
seconds left and the Lady Knights came charging back with the
chance to take the final shot.
However, Gannon turned the ball over in the offensive end with 30
seconds remaining. Julianne Speese picked up the ground ball and
quickly began Lock Haven's transition to offense. Allison Berger
then scored the game-winning goal off the fast break with 19
seconds left. The Bald Eagles won the ensuing face-off and added an
insurance goal with nine seconds showing on the clock.
Fugate led the Gannon scoring attack with a season-high five goals.
Nelson posted a team-high seven points, scoring twice and dishing
out five assists.
DerCola recorded her second hat trick of the season. Eshenour added
two goals and two assists. Grzybinski, Millerd and Molly SanJule
(Cortland, N.Y./Cortland) completed the scoring with one goal
each.
Cook continued her hot play in goal, making a season-high 15 saves.
In the process, the senior goalkeeper became Gannon's all-time
saves leader with 560 career saves. She has reached double digits
in saves during seven straight matches, including each of the last
three.
Gannon dropped to 7-4 overall and 3-3 in the PSAC West. Lock Haven
remained undefeated at 9-0 overall and 6-0 in conference play. The
Lady Knights conclude a three-match homestand Saturday, April 10
against seventh-ranked West Chester at Gannon University Field.
Game time is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
