Erin Clark found the back of the net with 14 seconds left to lift the Youngstown State women's lacrosse team past Butler, 19-18, in their season opener inside the Watson and Tressel Training Site.
The Penguins open the 2023 season with a 1-0 record while the Bulldogs start out 0-1.
Natalie Calandra-Ryan led all teams with a game-high five goals on nine total shots. She also netted four draw controls, made an assist, and caused two turnovers.
Clark had an impressive all-around performance. She led both teams with seven points from three goals and four assists. She also tallied four draw controls and caused a turnover.
Sydney Bumstead and Abby Yesko each netted a hat trick of goals, Bumstead's on just three total shots. Ali Korin and Ally Garrett also delivered multi-goal outings with two apiece. Molly Sheridan also found the back of the net on her only shot of the day.
Defensively, Mikaela Staranko made eight saves on 29 Butler shots, half of which came in the fourth quarter on a full 60 minutes of play. Aryss Lindsey caused three turnovers while grabbing four ground balls and tallying four draw controls.
For Butler, Luci Selander (5), Leah Rubino (4), and KK Callaghan (3) each delivered multi-goal outings.
The Penguins were off to a slow start to begin the game as Butler built up a 3-0 lead. Korin was the first Penguin to find the back of the net on an unassisted goal with 6:28 left in the first quarter, making the score 1-3.
The Bulldogs answered with a goal of their own, but YSU went on a 3-0 scoring run across the next five minutes of play with goals by Bumstead, Clark, and Calandra-Ryan.
Opening the second quarter down one, 4-5, the Penguins came alive, outscoring Butler 8-4. After a Bulldogs' goal to open the quarter, Bumstead delivered back-to-back goals concluding at the 12:10 mark to tie up the game, 6-6.
Butler grabbed the lead again before Calandra-Ryan, on an assist from Yesko, tied the game up, 7-7, with 9:37 to play in the half. Clark, assisted by Garrett found the back of the net to give the Penguins their first lead of the day, 8-7, with 8:34 until halftime.
Following a Butler goal to tie it up, the Penguins went on a 4-0 scoring run with two goals by Calandra-Ryan and a one-a-piece for Sheridan and Garrett. YSU entered halftime up 12-9 with scores from six different Penguins.
Butler and YSU exchanged goals to start the third quarter, the Penguins' score came off a successful free-position attempt by Korin. After a Bulldogs' score, Yesko scored back-to-back goals in 21 seconds of play to extend YSU's lead to 15-11 with 2:09 to play in the third quarter.
Butler closed out the third quarter with a score of their own, but the Penguins answered at the start of the fourth with a successful free-position attempt by Garrett. The team's exchanged goals again, YSU's on an unassisted goal by Yesko with 11:09 to play in the game, making the score 17-13.
Following Yesko's goal, the Penguins' offense came to a halt as the Bulldogs went on a 4-0 scoring run to lock things up, 17-17, with 7:02 remaining. Calandra-Ryan ended the Penguins scoring drought with 4:31 left to play on an assist from Korin and gave the Penguins back the lead, 18-17.
Butler had an answer of their own just over a minute later to tie it back up, 18-18, with 2:32 to play. After the Bulldogs won the draw, Lindsey forced a turnover to give the Penguins the ball with just over two minutes remaining
Calandra-Ryan took the shot with 1:22 to play but couldn't connect. After a Butler turnover, the Penguins had the ball with just over a minute to play and an opportunity to grab the lead.
Calandra-Ryan found Clark on the right wing to put the Penguins up one with 14 seconds to play, 19-18. Calandra-Ryan won the final draw to seal the Penguins' victory.
Up Next
The Penguins will be back inside WATTS to host Marquette on Friday, Feb. 17. First draw against the Golden Eagles is set for 1 p.m.
For news and updates throughout the 2023 women's lacrosse season, follow @YSUwlax on Twitter.
