HUNTINGDON, Pa.- An eight-goal third period was key for the Juniata women's lacrosse team as the Eagles powered past Lycoming 16-8 on Wednesday evening.
Peyton Goodrich led the scoring effort for the Eagles with five on the day, while Grace Gibbs and Kyndall Yeager each collected four goals. Chloe Gerhard posted a .619 save percentage in the game with a season-high 13 saves for her third win of the year. Goodrich and Gibbs each led in caused turnovers with three, while Gibbs led in ground balls with five. Goodrich totaled ten draw controls on a day where Juniata collected 16 to Lycoming's 12.
Scoring was difficult to come by across the first period, but the Eagles were able to carry a 4-3 lead into the halftime break thanks to three Gibbs. Juniata got the scoring started within the first four minutes as Yeager made the most of her second shot of the day, beating her defender on the right side from eight yards for the first goal of the game. The Warriors struck back within two minutes on a free-position goal in a man-up situation. Lycoming then claimed the lead with 7:37 remaining in the first period as a Warrior swatted at an errant Eagles pass in front of the goal and fired past the goaltender.
Gibbs leveled the scoreline with two minutes to go in the period, running down the middle of the Lycoming defense in transition and firing at the goal from a few yards away. Juniata stood level through the first period and outside their opponents 8-5 but was unable to convert on three free-position shots.
Lycoming again reclaimed the lead to open the third second period in the third minute of play, as a pass from the right side found an unmarked player in front of the goal a couple of yards in front for the Warriors' third. Yeager found the leveler this time three minutes later, sprinting right and firing a shot from ten yards away that went through the goaltender's legs. Gibbs took the lead 45 seconds later at 4-3, again driving down the middle of the defense, beating a few defenders and the goaltender.
Lycoming pressed on with five shots in the last eight minutes to Juniata's two, but they were unable to break through.
Two free-position goals in the first three minutes from Gibbs and Goodrich put Juniata ahead 6-3, followed by two straight Lycoming goals to again make it a one-goal contest. With nine minutes in the period, the Eagles went on a six-goal unanswered run with three Goodrich goals, a pair of goals from Yeager, and one from Gibbs. The Eagles vitally made use of their free position shots, converting on all three chances.
Scoring persisted in the fourth period, as Juniata maintained the gap by outscoring Lycoming 4-3. Isabella Michener scored twice, while Kelliann Drummond and Goodrich each totaled one.
Juniata ended the game only outshooting Lycoming 28-27, but they were able to beat Lycoming's goalkeeper at nearly double the rate that the Warriors were able to make it past Gerhard.
The women's lacrosse team travels on Saturday at 1:00 pm to face future Landmark Conference opponent Wilkes at Schmidt Stadium. This is the first time the teams will meet.
