WASHINGTON, Pa.- The Juniata women's lacrosse team was victorious on the road, 14-8, against the reigning President Athletic Conference Champion Washington and Jefferson Presidents, Saturday afternoon at Alexandre Stadium.
Grace Gibbs started things for the Eagles two minutes into the game, with Kyndall Yeager providing the assist on the opening goal. The hosts answered with a goal of their own six minutes later to even the score. Gibbs found the back of the net for a second time, this time off a free position shot, as Juniata led 2-1 after one quarter of play.
W&J scored the first goal of the second quarter to again pull even at two. The Eagles dominated the next 21 minutes of game action as they scored eight unanswered goals through the rest of the first half and into the first seven minutes of the third quarter. Gibbs scored on a free position shot, then Peyton Goodrich scored a goal off a Gibbs assist before assisting Shannon Para. Gibbs scored again in the final 19 seconds as JC led 6-2 at the half.
Para opened the third with a goal; Goodrich struck twice in less than two minutes, with Gibbs and Para assisting. Yeager beat the keeper on a free position shot as the Eagles led 10-2 with under nine minutes to go in the third. The Presidents sandwiched goals around Goodrich's third of the quarter, which was assisted by Skyler Stevens, as the Eagle lead was seven heading into the fourth.
Kelliann Drummond found Para for her second goal of the day early in the final frame, but the Presidents didn't quit, witling the JC lead down four, 12-8, with three minutes and 47 seconds showing on the scoreboard. Drummond scored to push the lead back to five, and Goodrich added her fifth in the final minute to cement the win for the Eagles, 14-8.
Chloe Gerhard made 12 saves in net for Juniata to earn the win. Gerhard was unbeatable on free position shots, as the Presidents went 0-6.
Goodrich totaled five goals, an assist, six ground balls, six draw controls, and four caused turnovers. Gibbs tallied four goals, an assist, three groundballs, two draw controls, and two caused turnovers. Para amassed three goals, two assists, three ground balls, and two caused turnovers. Yeager and Drummond contributed one goal and one assist apiece. Maeve Kuser had four caused turnovers and five ground balls, while Tess Ledeboer added three ground balls and two caused turnovers.
In the third quarter, Goodrich's third goal of the game was also her 100th career point.
The Eagles, now 6-0, will travel to take on Bridgewater Wednesday at 4:00.