Release courtesy of Sports Information Intern, Vin Rinella

SCRANTON, Pa. -- The University of Scranton women's lacrosse team (6-2, 1-0 Landmark) defeated the Juniata Eagles (6-2, 0-1 Landmark) by a score of 12-8 thanks to a strong second half effort in the Landmark Conference opener for both teams on Saturday afternoon at Weiss Field.

Juniata got the scoring started against the Royals just two minutes into the game, going up 1-0 after capitalizing on a free position shot against junior goalie Lauren Boldis (Merrick, N.Y. / Sanford H. Calhoun). A couple minutes later, freshman Eileen Hewitt (Downingtown, Pa / Downingtown East) fed classmate Jillian Lopez (Sayville, N.Y. / St. Anthony's) who found the back of the net to even the game at one apiece. The Eagles answered with another goal of their own, but the Royals evened the score at 2-2 shortly after when junior Molly McCarren (Suffern, N.Y. / Suffern) scored her first goal of the contest at the 8:48 mark.

With six minutes left to go in the first, Juniata scored again, retaking the lead at 3-2. Shortly before the end of the quarter, McCarren got the Royals back even with her second goal of the day, as we headed into the second quarter knotted up at 3-3.

The back-and-forth game would continue in the second quarter, as junior Grace Lane (Long Beach, N.Y / Sacred Heart Academy) gave the Royals the lead with a free-position goal just two minutes into the period. The Eagles would then capitalize on a player-up scenario, scoring their fourth goal of the game and tying it up once again. At the 4:20 mark, McCarren struck again after scoring on another free-position goal, giving the Royals the 5-4 lead that they would take into the half.

After Juniata began the third quarter with a goal that would tie the game once again, Scranton scored the next three goals and gave themselves the biggest lead of the day thus far at 8-5. During this run in the third quarter, senior Lauren Crotty (Long Beach, N.Y. / Kellenberg Memorial) scored her first goal of the season, while senior Kayleigh Stalter (Lynbrook, N.Y. / Lynbrook) and Lopez added a goal each.

Lopez completed the hat trick with the Royals' ninth goal of the game to begin the fourth, giving the home team a 9-5 edge. Juniata would then answer and bring themselves within two after scoring twice in under a minute, but that run would fall short. After McCarren added two more goals and Stalter added her second of the afternoon, the game was out of reach for Juniata. Despite a last second goal with 14 seconds on the clock, it was not enough as Scranton earned their first conference victory.

McCarren led the Royals with her career-high five goals, and Lopez also scored a career high in goals, posting her first career hat trick while also leading the team with five caused turnovers. Senior Devyn Tanajewski (Ringwood, N.J. / Lakeland Regional) picked up a game high six ground balls while posting two assists and four caused turnovers, and Boldis made two saves in the win.

For McCarren, her career-best five goals surpassed her previous career-high of three that had been set on two different occasions during the 2023 season.

The University of Scranton women's lacrosse team is back in action on Thursday at 5 p.m. against Goucher at Weiss Field.

--ROYALS--