HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata women's lacrosse team couldn't overcome a strong first quarter from the visiting University of Scranton as they lost for the first time this season, 11-5, on a chilly Saturday afternoon at Gibbel Stadium to open Landmark Conference play.
Skyler Stevens tallied three second-half goals to go with three ground balls and a caused turnover. Kelliann Drummond contributed a goal and an assist, while Peyton Goodrich tallied one goal, which gives her 100 for her career. She added four ground balls, four draw controls, and four caused turnovers. Kyndall Yeager had an assist, three ground balls, and a caused turnover. Maeve Kuser had six ground balls and three caused turnovers, while Tess Ledeboer amassed four caused turnovers and two ground balls.
The Royals scored five times in the first quarter on nine shots, while Juniata got four shots off but couldn't get any on frame.
The second quarter saw the defenses settle in as the teams only combined for nine total shots, the fewest in any quarter in the game. The Royals added two to their lead as the Eagles trailed 7-0. In the final minute of the half, Goodrich forced a turnover, went the length of the field, and dodged past several Royal defenders before ripping a shot past the keeper to get the Eagles on the board.
The third quarter had the fewest goals of any quarter, with one by each team. Scranton opened the third with a free-position goal in the first 57 seconds. Nine minutes later, Stevens harassed a Royal defender who had the ball behind their own net. She dispossessed the defender, scooped up the ball, sprinted to the front of goal, spun back to her right hand, and fired a low shot by the keeper to make it 8-2.
Two more goals from Stevens, off assists from Drummond and Yeager, brought Juniata back within four and had them thinking of a comeback. The Royals took control back of the game, scoring three goals over eight minutes to push their lead back to seven at 11-4. Drummond scored in the final minute and a half to complete the scoring.
The Eagles will return to action next Saturday at Goucher.
