The Gannon University women's lacrosse team lost to Belmont Abbey 17-8 in a road matchup at Alumni Field on Saturday afternoon. The Golden Knights started the game strong but struggled to maintain their momentum as Belmont Abbey took control in the late stages of the contest.
Gannon opened the first quarter with energy, taking a 3-2 lead behind two goals from
Caroline Stevens (Syracuse, N.Y./Liverpool) and another from
Avrey Kirisits (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster Central).
However, Belmont Abbey responded with a dominant second quarter, scoring six straight goals.
Alyssa Lerch (Coraopolis, Pa./Moon Area) managed to break Gannon's scoring drought just before halftime, but the Knights found themselves trailing 8-4 at the break.
In the third quarter, Gannon kept fighting as Stevens and Kirisits each added another goal, while
Charlie Hunter (Boston, N.Y./Hamburg) found the net as well. Despite their efforts, Belmont Abbey continued to answer each score and maintained their lead. In the final quarter, Gannon was unable to find the back of the net, while Belmont Abbey extended its lead with five more goals to seal the win.
Stevens and Kirisits led Gannon with three goals each, while Hunter and Lerch each scored one.
Ella Todd (Maple Ridge, British Columbia/Maple Ridge Secondary) and
Maggie McGinnis (Brunswick, Ohio/Brunswick) contributed assists.
Riley Finnegan (Oviedo, Fla./Oviedo) recorded ten saves in goal, but Belmont Abbey created too many scoring chances throughout the game.
Belmont Abbey controlled possession, outshooting Gannon 41-17 and winning the draw control battle 20-9. Turnovers were also a factor, with Gannon committing 23 compared to Belmont Abbey's 16. The ground ball battle was close, but Belmont Abbey edged Gannon 23-17.
Up Next
The Golden Knights will return to action for their home opener and senior day on Saturday, March 15, against Daemen. The game is scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM inside McConnell Family Stadium, with senior day celebrations taking place before the opening draw.
