WASHINGTON, DC—The Juniata women's lacrosse team couldn't withstand a strong second half from the Catholic University of America, losing 15-8 Saturday afternoon in a Landmark Conference clash.
Peyton Goodrich totaled five goals, three groundballs, and two caused turnovers. Grace Gibbs added three goals, an assist, two ground balls, five draw controls, and a caused turnover. Megan McConnell had three caused turnovers, while Caoilinn Heatley had six saves, four ground balls, and four caused turnovers in goal for JC.
The Cardinals tallied the first two goals of the game over the first seven minutes of the game. Goodrich got JC's first seven minutes in on a free position shot, and Catholic pushed their lead back to two with their third four minutes later. Goodrich found the back of the net again on another free-position shot. Gibbs tied things up a little over a minute later before she set up Goodrich for her third, as JC led 4-3 after one.
A low-scoring third quarter featured two Goodrich goals and one Cardinal goal, and the Eagles led 6-4 at the halftime break.
Catholic dominated the third and into the fourth, as they rattled off eight straight goals and led 12-6 with nine minutes to go in the game. Gibbs scored the final two JC goals of the game before Catholic struck three more to complete the scoring.
Juniata is now 5-2 in conference play and will host Elizabethtown on Tuesday at 7:00.