KENT, Ohio – Natalie Calandra-Ryan netted the game-winning goal at the end of regulation to complete the come-from-behind win and lift the Youngstown State women's lacrosse team over Kent State on Thursday evening's Mid-American Conference contest at Dix Stadium, 21-20.

With the victory, the Penguins improve to 5-3 overall and 3-0 in MAC play, while the Golden Flashes fall to 2-8 on the year, including an 0-4 record in conference play.

YSU was led offensively by Calandra-Ryan who netted a school record and game-high eight goals in a 12-shot outing, upping her season total a team-leading 31 scores. The Auburn, N.Y. native also tallied game-highs in points (10) and assists (3), while picking-up a lone ground ball and grabbing three draw controls. Calandra-Ryan logged multi-goal outings in all eight contests during the 2022 season.

Erin Clark also tallied her eighth multi-goal performance in as many games, scoring a season-high six goals on 10 shots for the game. Adding to her stat line, Clark pocketed eight draw controls, logged two assists and went 2-for-2 from the free-position line. Sydney Bumstead and Lauren Ottensmeyer also tallied multi-goal outings for YSU, scoring three and two goals apiece, respectively.

Tristen Chang, Abby Yesko and Ali Korin acted as the final Penguins to contribute to the 21-goal mark, finding the cage once. YSU accumulated 39 shots on goal for the game.

Kozar and Wolford led all Golden Flashes scorers, tallying four goals apiece.

Following a 3-0 scoring run to begin the game by the Golden Flashes, Clark got the Penguins on the board scoring the first of two opening quarter goals at the 9:12 mark. Just over a minute later, Calandra-Ryan cut the Penguins deficit to a lone score with a free-position goal. After another Kent State score, Clark found the back of the net for the second time on YSU's second free-position goal of the contest with 4:36 to play in the period, bringing the score to 4-3 in favor of the Golden Flashes.

The Penguins were within two goals on two separate occasions during the second quarter, both coming off two-goal scoring runs. The first came at the 4:27 mark when Bumstead found the back of the net off an assist from Aryss Lindsey to bring the score to 11-9 and again with 22 ticks to play in the half off a free-position shot from Calandra-Ryan. Kent State entered the break holding a 13-11 lead.

Out of the break, a duo of goals by Clark and Korin cut the Golden Flashes lead to a single goal, 14-13, by the 13:19 mark of the third. The Penguins played the remainder of the quarter within a two-goal deficit, coming within one score at the 8:00 and 6:00 points and would trail 17-15 heading into the fourth.

The Golden Flashes upped their lead to 18-15 just before the Penguins stringed together a four-plus minute, five-goal scoring run that included a four-piece of goals from Calandra-Ryan to take their first lead of the contest, 20-18.  

Answering, Kent State responded with a pair of scores and evened the score at 20 apiece with just 54 seconds remaining in regulation.

Off a Penguins timeout, Clark found Calandra-Ryan in front of the goal for the game-winning score, completing the come-from-behind win.

Up Next
The Penguins are back in action on Saturday, March 19, at Farmers National back field to take on non-conference opponent Canisius. First draw is slated for 1 p.m.

This will be the first regular-season meeting between the two programs.

For news and updates throughout the 2022 women's lacrosse season, follow @YSUwlax on Twitter.