PITTSBURGH, Pa.- The Juniata women's lacrosse team started off their first season of NCAA competition with a 13-9 victory over Chatham University, Saturday afternoon.
Kylie Edwards (Danville, Pa. / Danville), Mina Wilt (Wells Tannery, Pa. / Forbes Road) and Natalie Gibson (Annapolis, Md. / Broadneck) each scored three goals for the Eagles while Lauren Rowe (Selinsgrove, Pa. / Selinsgrove Area HS) scored two. Wilt added six caused turnovers and four draw controls. while Arielle Danchenko (Palm City, Fla. / South Fork HS) and Zoe Fishter (Sewickley, Pa. / Quaker Valley) each had one goal. Danchenko added three draw controls and three ground balls. Fishter tallied two assists while Edwards, Gibson, and Kerry McClaughry (Somerville, N.J. / Somerville High School) each had one.
Coach Naomi Radio commented on how the first ever women's lacrosse game went. "Really proud of the way our players competed. They worked hard for the entire 60 minutes and played with more and more confidence as the game went on. Mina Wilt moved into the midfield and was a difference maker all over the field today- winning draw controls, playing tough D, and scoring."
In the first half, Chatham started off strong with two goals in the first two minutes of the game before Edwards put in JC's first goal of the season off an assist from Fishter. Two minutes later, Rowe scored off an assist from Gibson. Just seconds after the next draw, Wilt got control of the ball and scored Juniata's third goal of the game. Again, the Eagles got control of the draw and Edwards scored the fourth goal of the game, giving JC a 4-2 advantage.
After a wide shot by Fishter, Gibson scored with an assist from Edwards. With about five minutes left in the first half, Wilt scored another goal after she forced a turnover. With 17 seconds left in the half, Fishter scored off of a free position shot. The Eagles were a woman up after Chatham received a yellow card, and Gibson scored with five seconds left in the half. Just before the end of the first half, Danchenko scored the Eagles' ninth goal of the game.
Five minutes into the second half, Rowe scored off an assist from Fishter after Fishter's shot was blocked. Wilt caused another turnover which resulted in another goal for Juniata. Edwards scored the Eagles twelfth goal with an assist by McClaughry. With three minutes left in the game, the Eagles got off one last goal by Gibson to clinch the 13-9 victory.
Isabella Medaris (Monroe, Conn. / Masulk) totaled 10 saves.
The Eagles will return to action March 2nd at 7:00PM, they will travel to Cedar Crest.
