McKenna Woodworth vs. IUP
Bryce Dolak
13
Lock Haven LHU 2-4, 1-1 PSAC West
14
Winner Gannon GAN 1-5, 1-1 PSAC West
Lock Haven LHU
2-4, 1-1 PSAC West
13
Final
14
Gannon GAN
1-5, 1-1 PSAC West
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Lock Haven LHU 6 6 1 0 13
Gannon GAN 3 5 3 3 14

Game Recap: Women's Lacrosse | | Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Woodworth, Golden Knights Record Frigid Rally to Defeat Lock Haven 14-13

ERIE, Pa. – McKenna Woodworth (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads) scored a career-high seven goals and the Gannon women's lacrosse team scored the final five goals of the match on Saturday to stage a huge rally and hand Lock Haven a 14-13 defeat in a PSAC West contest at McConnell Family Stadium. The win was the first of the season for the Golden Knights, who improved to 1-5 and 1-1 in the PSAC West. Lock Haven is now 2-4 and 1-1 in league play, as well. The win snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Bald Eagles.

The contest was moved up from a 1 p.m. start to 11:30 a.m. due to potential snowfall in the afternoon. The two teams battled frigid conditions and after a high-scoring first half the defenses took over in the second half.

Lock Haven jumped out to a 12-8 lead at the half and the lead was still four goals at 13-9 with 9:32 remaining in the third period when Emma Williams scored her third goal of the contest.

That was the last goal the Bald Eagles would score as Gannon and freshman goalie Riley Finnegan (Oviedo, Fla./Oviedo) held them without a goal for the final 24-plus minutes. The Golden Knights started climbing back into the contest with two goals in the third period, both by Woodworth. The junior scored at the 6:12 mark, and then took a pass from Caroline Stevens (Syracuse, N.Y./Liverpool) and scored with 4:33 left to make it 13-11.

Neither team scored for the first five minutes of the final period before Grace Cunningham (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas) notched her second goal of the season at 9:59, assisted by fellow sophomore Avrey Kirisits (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster Central). That goal sparked a run of three goals for the Golden Knights in less than three minutes.

Woodworth tied the match at 13-13 with 8:36 remaining on a free position goal. Less than a minute later, at 7:37, the comeback was complete as Gannon grabbed a 14-13 lead on Woodworth's career-best seventh goal of the match. Starting from the left side of the goal area, she spun to her left and facing a tough angle was able to get the ball past Lock Haven goalie Dana Mirigliano.

From there it was up to the Gannon defense to hold off a Lock Haven team that had upset No. 22 Mercyhurst on Wednesday. With snow now falling, Gannon forced three turnovers in the final minutes, but the Bald Eagles had one last chance following a Gannon turnover.

LHU's Abby Katrinak was fouled and lined up for a free position shot with just under ten seconds left. Her attempt was blocked and Alli Jacobs (Eden, N.Y./Eden) recovered the ensuing ground ball to secure the victory.

Gannon ended with a 35-29 advantage in shots after trailing at the half by two shots. The Golden Knights outshot Lock Haven 19-11 in the final 30 minutes. Both teams had 14 turnovers, with Gannon recording 18 draw controls compared to 13 for Lock Haven. The Golden Knights were 11-of-12 on clears and LHU 12-of-16.
Woodworth finished with a career-high seven goals on 15 shots, boosting her career total to 95 goals. Stevens added three goals and two assists, while Alyssa Lerch (Coraopolis, Pa./Moon Area), Charlie Hunter (Boston, N.Y./Hamburg), and Cunningham had a goal apiece. Macy Hepditch (Waterloo, Ontario/Resurrection Catholic) also scored a goal, but Gannon's leading scorer was forced to exit the game with an injury and did not return.

Finnegan turned in a strong performance in goal off the bench. Haleigh Manning (Milton, Ga./Cambridge) started after a strong showing off the bench on Wednesday vs. Indiana (Pa.). The sophomore played the first 16 minutes, 38 seconds before she was relieved by Finnegan on Saturday. Finnegan would limit the Bald Eagles to five goals while recording eight saves in 43 minutes, 22 seconds for her first career win.  

Gannon returns to action on Wednesday, March 22 at Seton Hill. The Griffins are the preseason favorite in the PSAC West. The match gets underway at 4:00 p.m. 
 
Print Friendly Version