EUGENE, Ore. - The Youngstown State women's lacrosse team fell to Oregon, 19-8, in their 2024 season opener at Papé Field on Friday night.

The Ducks open the season with a 1-0 record while the Penguins start 0-1.

Of the Penguins' eight goals scored, seven were by newcomers to the team. Freshmen Lena Cox and Katie Grottenthaler both delivered a hat trick of goals in their first collegiate games while freshman Brooke Peck and junior Molly Sheridan found the back of the net once. 

Freshman Ava Kreutzer delivered the lone Penguin assist of the game for her first career point.

Freshman Genna Cooke led the Penguins with four draw controls while also causing a turnover and grabbing a ground ball. 

In the cage, freshman Paige Borkowski recorded the bulk of the minutes, making nine saves while giving up 13 goals for a .409 save percentage in three quarters played.

Leading Oregon's offense were Anna Simmons, Rachel Pallo, and Haley Cummins who each recorded three goals apiece. Emma Ing, Lauren Rismani, and Morgan McCarthy also found the back of the net multiple times, each scoring twice.

The Ducks opened the game with three unanswered scores before the Penguins scored two of their own to get within one of Oregon. Sheridan was the first Penguin to find the back of the net on a shifty play at the 9:10 mark of the first quarter to make the score 3-1. 

Cox delivered her first of three goals, finding the back of the net 35 seconds after Sheridan to bring the score to 3-2. Oregon answered with a goal before Cox shot a Kreutzer pass into the net at the 5:14 mark of the first to make the score 4-3.

The Ducks would score the following five goals before Cox completed her first half hat trick with 7:20 remaining in the second quarter. Just over a minute later, Grottenthaler scored her first career goal off a free-position shot to cut the Ducks' lead to three, 8-5, with 6:19 to play until halftime.

Oregon would close out the first half with four unanswered goals to head into halftime with a 12-5 lead over the Penguins.

The Ducks would strike first at the start of the second half but Grottenthaler had a quick answer, delivering her second goal of the game at the 13:27 mark of the third quarter, making the score 13-6 Oregon.

Oregon scored the next four before Peck converted a free-position attempt for her first career goal with 7:20 remaining in the game, the Ducks leading 17-7.

The final Penguin goal of the game came when Grottenthaler spun around an Oregon defender and drilled the ball into the back of the net with 3:49 to play, making the final score 19-8.

The Ducks won the draw control margin 17-14 and out shot the Penguins 39-15.

Youngstown State will return to action on Friday, Feb. 16 as it hosts Ohio State in the Watson and Tressel Training Site. First draw is set for 3 p.m. against the Buckeyes.