Release courtesy of Sports Information Intern, Vin Rinella
SCRANTON, Pa. – The University of Scranton women's lacrosse team defeated Haverford College (2-1) in a nail-biting 11-10 win in their home opener to improve to 3-1 on the young season on Saturday afternoon at Weiss Field.
This marks the first time the Royals have beaten Haverford since 2019.
Both teams received votes in the latest IWLCA Top 25 that was released earlier this week.
After Haverford opened the scoring at the 12:58 mark of the first quarter, freshman Jillian Lopez (Sayville, NY / St. Anthony's) scored her first career goal to tie the score, and fellow freshman Eileen Hewitt (Downington, Pa / Downington East) gave the Royals the lead with her sixth goal of the season just three minutes later.
The Fords would retake the lead with back-to-back goals late in the first, but the Royals evened the score up once again with a goal from senior Devyn Tanajewski (Ringwood, NJ / Lakeland Regional), followed by a player-up goal from senior Erin Reich (Rockville, NY / South Side) to end the quarter with a 4-3 lead.
Scranton opened the scoring in the second quarter with a goal from senior Kayleigh Stalter (Lynbrook, NY / Lynbrook) at the 14:15 mark. Just under a minute later, senior Grace Lane (Long Beach, NY / Sacred Heart Acadmy) tallied her first goal of the game with just over 13 minutes left in the quarter to extend the lead to 6-3.
After two goals from Haverford in response, Reich scored her second goal of the game, making it 7-5. The Fords would respond again, however, scoring two goals before the quarter ended, tying the game at seven going into the half.
Scranton would retake the lead 8-7 with Lane's second goal of the game at the 9:15 mark in the third quarter. Hewitt and Stalter added to the lead with their second goals of the game to end the third, giving the hosts a 10-7 advantage.
Haverford refused to go down easily as they scored their first goal of the half with 7:34 to go in the game. Lane answered right back for the Royals with her third goal of the game in a player-up situation, bringing the lead back to three goals. Despite two more goals for the Fords late in the quarter, Scranton held on, winning the home opener 11-10.
Lane led the offensive effort with 3 goals and an assist, while five other Royals got on the score sheet. Seniors Grace Dabulas (Scotch Plains, NJ / Westfield) and Karina Roettger (Brick, NJ / Brick Memorial) both picked up 2 ground balls and junior goalkeeper Lauren Boldis (Merrick, NY / Sanford H. Calhoun) racked up 6 saves in the win.
Lopez led all players in the contest with 6 draw controls.
The women's lacrosse team is back in action on Wednesday against The College of New Jersey, with action slated to begin at 4 pm at Weiss Field.
--ROYALS--
