HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata women's lacrosse team hung tough in the first half but the University of Scranton pulled away in the second as the Eagles fell, 19-6, in their home finale.
Grace Gibbs (Arnold, Md. / Broadneck HS) had two goals, four ground balls, two draw controls, and three caused turnovers while Talia Bertrando (Lititz, Pa. / Warwick) tallied two goals and a ground ball. Taylor Metz (Oaklyn, N.J. / Paul VI H.S.) notched a goal and an assist while Andrea Insalaco (Woodlyn, Pa. / Ridley) had a goal, two ground balls, and two caused turnovers and Paige Riker (Sussex, N.J. / Vernon Township) chipped in with an assist.
The Royals scored the first five goals over the opening nine minutes of play before an unassisted Bertrando goal got the Eagles on the board.
Goal number one for Juniata against Scranton by Talia Bertrando! #wingsup #LandmarkWLAX pic.twitter.com/DoPM5wp7Sf
— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) April 17, 2021
The Royals followed with two more goals to make it 7-1 with just under 11 minutes to play. Bertrando scored her second on a free position goal while the Eagles were a women up.
Goal 2 of the day for Talia Bertrando! #goeagles #LandmarkWLAX pic.twitter.com/cxNrxS9sXs
— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) April 17, 2021
Scranton scored with just under six minutes to play before Gibbs scored two goals, one assisted by Metz and the other by Bertrando, to make it 8-4. Scranton struck twice more, including a goal while a woman down on a free position shot with five seconds to go in the half to make it 10-4 at the break.
Scranton leads, 8-3 after a goal by Grace Gibbs from Taylor Metz! #wingsup pic.twitter.com/Kbeve39KmJ
— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) April 17, 2021
Another nice goal from Grace Gibbs with the assist from Talia Bertrando! The Eagles cut the score, 8-4! #goeagles #LandmarkWLAX pic.twitter.com/QQBTNYCy2L
— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) April 17, 2021
Scranton scored nine straight goals in the second half before Andrea Insalaco went the length of the field and scored for JC.
Andrea Insalaco goes the length of the field and scores for the Eagles #wingsup #JCWLAX #LandmarkWLAX pic.twitter.com/ncLYr98ahK
— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) April 17, 2021
In the final 30 seconds, Riker found Metz for the final goal of the game which made it 19-6.
Paige Riker finds Taylor Metz for the final goal of the day #wingsup #JCWLAX #LandmarkWLAX pic.twitter.com/4KaXJ9YdXb
— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) April 17, 2021
The Eagles will wrap up the regular season on the road at Moravian, Tuesday at 4:00.