Niagara Falls, N.Y. - The Youngstown State women's lacrosse team delivered a strong start but was unable to overcome Niagara's second-half push that led to an 18-11 loss on a cold Thursday afternoon at Niagara Field.
The Penguins fall to 1-4 on the season while Niagara improves to 4-1.
Natalie Calandra-Ryan and Erin Clark each delivered a hat trick of goals on the day with three apiece. Ali Korin (2), Shannyn Cullen, Jordan Miller, and Sydney Bumstead each found the back of the net for the Guins.
Taylor Bumstead delivered the only Penguin assist of the game. Clark led the Guins with five draw controls while Calandra-Ryan tallied four.
Mikaela Staranko netted 14 saves in the cage on a 41-shot barrage by the Purple Eagles, giving up 18 goals for a .438 save percentage
Lois Garlow, Andra Savage, and Rachel Crane spearheaded the Purple Eagles' scoring effort with four goals apiece.
The Penguins were off to a strong start with a 5-1 scoring run to open the contest. Clark (2), Miller, Cullen, and Korin scored goals during the Penguins' initial run.
Beginning at the 2:01 mark of the first quarter, Niagara delivered four unanswered goals before the end of the quarter to tie it up headed into the second, 5-5.
The Penguins and Purple Eagles went back and forth in the second quarter with four goals apiece. Bumstead scored her 10th goal of the season at the 12:05 mark of the quarter, and Clark did the same with 9:59 remaining in the half to complete her early first-half hat trick.
Calandra-Ryan found the back of the net at the 7:21 mark of the second quarter. The Penguins' other second-quarter goal came when Korin accepted a Taylor Bumstead pass and fired into the net with 5:09 to play before halftime, making the first-half score 9-9.
Niagara opened the second half with back-to-back goals before Calandra-Ryan scored her second goal of the day at the 8:04 mark of the third quarter, YSU down 11-10.
The Purple Eagles closed out the third quarter with three unanswered goals and continued the run with an opening fourth-quarter goal to take a five-point lead over the Penguins, 15-10, at the 14:22 mark of the fourth.
Calandra-Ryan ended the Penguins' scoring drought with 12:09 remaining in the game to complete her third hat trick of the season, making the score 15-11.
Niagara closed out the game with three unanswered to make the final score 18-11.
Youngstown State will remain on the road as they travel to take on No. 3 Northwestern at Ryan Fieldhouse in Evanston, Ill. on Sunday afternoon. First draw is set for 1 p.m. CT / 2 p.m. Eastern.
