By Dylan Lux / The Jambar
Following its outdoor season openers against Longwood University and the George Washington University, the Youngstown State University women’s lacrosse team began Mid-American Conference play against Kent State University on March 17.
After going 0-7 in non-conference games to start the year, a new slate started with the team’s first conference match against the Golden Flashes.
Just two minutes into the contest, YSU got on the board first in the match with a goal from sophomore Ally Garrett off an assist from junior Kayla Stecker.
The Golden Flashes followed with two goals, but freshman Ava Kreutzer answered unassisted to knot the score at 2-2.
Throughout the next nine minutes of the first quarter, Kent State scored five unanswered goals to bring the score to 7-2.
Garrett started the second quarter scoring with an unassisted goal followed by a KSU score. Youngstown State scored the following two goals by freshman Grace Rund and senior Aryn Lohrey, cutting the lead to 8-5.
The Golden Flashes found the back of the cage four more times in the second quarter while YSU freshman Katie Grottenthaler scored twice in the quarter, leading to a 12-7 halftime score.
Freshman Lena Cox scored first in the second half, while Kreutzer scored her second and third goals of the match. This marks Kreutzer’s third career hat trick.
Grottenthaler finished off the scoring run for YSU with a goal at the 4:25 mark of the third quarter. Kent State scored its lone goal in the third, bringing back the Golden Flashes’ lead at 13-11.
Cox scored with 10:46 remaining in the contest, cutting the deficit to one point, but KSU brought the lead back to two.
Cox proceeded to go on a three-goal scoring run by herself and took the lead for the first time since the first quarter. The second of the three goals was assisted by sophomore Emma Hoffman.
With the lead at 15-14 for Youngstown State, Kent State scored with under one minute to go in the game, tying the score at 15.
Just 30 seconds later, KSU scored once more for the final time in the contest. The final score of the matchup was 16-15 in favor of Kent State.
The loss brings YSU to an 0-8 overall record and starts the team off 0-1 in conference play.
The Penguins looked to bounce back against non-conference opponent Lindenwood University on March 20 in St. Charles, Missouri.
After a 7-7 score at halftime, the Lions pulled away in the second half, defeating the Penguins, 17-10.
The leading scorer for the ’Guins was Garrett who found the back of the cage four times.
The Penguins will travel to Michigan to take on the University of Detroit Mercy on March 24. First draw is set for 1 p.m.