Recap courtesy of Sports Information Intern, Vin Rinella
SAINT LEO, Fla. – The University of Scranton women's lacrosse team (4-2) warded off a second half comeback from Stevenson University as they defeated the Mustangs (2-4) by a score of 18-16 on Wednesday at University Turf Stadium in Saint Leo.
The Royals scored a season high of 18 goals in the win, with 7 different Royals scoring at least one goal in the contest. Scranton's 18 goals marked the most since a 21-0 win at Goucher on Apr. 15, 2023.
Scranton got on the board first at the 13:49 mark when senior Devyn Tanajewski's (Ringwood, NJ / Lakeland Regional) shot hit the back of the net. Senior Erin Reich (Rockville Centre, NY / South Side) would follow her up just over a minute later to extend the Royals' lead to 2-0 early.
After a Stevenson goal to bring them within one, Reich scored two more times and junior Molly McCarren (Suffern, NY / Suffern) added her first goal of the game to extend the Scranton lead to 5-1. However, as was the theme in this game, the Mustangs responded and scored two goals to end the quarter to keep themselves within striking distance at 5-3.
Stevenson ran with the momentum gained at the end of the first quarter, scoring three straight goals to start the second and giving themselves their first lead of the day at 6-5.
Scranton would respond just two minutes later, going on a 4-1 run to end the half. A goal from freshman Jillian Lopez (Sayville, NY / Saint Anthony's) got the Royals even at seven apiece and junior Grace Lane (Long Beach, NY / Sacred Heart Academy) followed Lopez with back-to-back goals of her own.
Freshman Eileen Hewitt (Downingtown, PA / Downingtown East) then scored her first of the game shortly after to put the Royals up 9-6 before Stevenson answered back with a goal to end the quarter with Scranton in front by a 9-7 margin at the half.
Hewitt opened the scoring in the second half with a goal just two minutes into the third. Despite goals from Reich, Lane, and Hewitt again, Stevenson went on a 7-4 run in the quarter. After tying the score numerous times in the third, the Mustangs finally retook the lead at the 0:24 mark with a 14-13 edge.
Trailing by one, the Royals battled hard against this Mustang team. Lane scored her fourth goal of the game to even the score at 14 just 23 seconds into the quarter, but Stevenson would answer back a few minutes later to retake a 15-14 lead.
Directly after winning the draw control, Tanajewski took it all the way to the net and scored, evening the game at 15 apiece. Hewitt followed suit with a similar looking goal to thrust the Royals back in front, this time for good. McCarren and Lane both added insurance goals as time slowly ticked away, and despite a late goal for Stevenson, the Royals hung on to win it 18-16.
The offensive effort today was led by Lane's five goals and Reich and Hewitt's four goals apiece. Tanajewski led the team with four ground balls while also scoring once and causing two turnovers, and junior goalie Lauren Boldis (Merrick, NY / Sanford H. Calhoun) notched a game-high eight saves.
For Hewitt and Reich, the four goals marked a season-high. Hewitt also added two draw controls and two caused turnovers in the victory.
The University of Scranton women's lacrosse team is back in action on Thursday, March 21st against Rowan University in Glassboro, N.J., with action set to begin at 4 pm.
--ROYALS--
