Youngstown, Ohio- The Youngstown State women's lacrosse team used a massive second-half rally to defeat Butler, 15-10, Friday evening at the Watson and Tressel Training Site.
Katie Grottenthaler led the way offensively with three goals, while Grace Rund, Ally Garrett, Brooke Peck, Sami Drew, and Ava Kreutzer each had multi-goal performances with two goals. Lena Cox and Genna Cooke scored the other goals for YSU, while Cox added three assists for a team-high four points.
Molly Sheridan had a very strong game defensively, securing three ground balls and causing three turnovers. Both totals set new season-highs for the senior. Tori Bustamante and Ava Kreutzer also collected three ground balls each.
Katie Grottenthaler was phenomenal on draws, controlling a team-high seven.
Liz Amos checked in to the game at goalkeeper halfway through the second quarter, and finished with two saves while only allowing four goals over 37:26.
The Penguins got onto the board first in the first quarter when Ally Garrett capitalized on the Guins being a player up as she netted her first goal of the season with 12:38 remaining in the opening quarter. Butler answered just 90 seconds later to tie the game up at one, before Genna Cooke put YSU back on top, 2-1, with a goal at the 8:04 mark in the first quarter. That would be the last time that the Penguins would lead until the fourth quarter.
Butler went on a furious run, scoring the final three goals of the first quarter, including their final with just two seconds remaining in the period, to claim a 4-2 lead after 15 minutes.
The Bulldogs picked up where they left off to begin the second quarter, scoring the first three goals of the period, the final of their 6-0 run being a Makenna Evans goal with 3:37 remaining until halftime, to push the Butler lead to 7-2. Sami Drew snapped YSU's scoring drought of over 20 minutes with 2:54 remaining in the quarter to cut the deficit to four at 7-3, but Butler added another goal with just 22 seconds remaining until halftime to take an 8-3 lead into the break.
The Penguins offense woke up coming out of the locker room, as they scored two goals within the first five minutes of the third quarter, both coming while the Guins were a player up. Ava Kreutzer and Grace Rund both scored their first goals of the game, Kreutzer's coming at the 11:37 mark, and Rund's coming at the 10:44 mark, to cut the lead to 8-5. YSU and Butler then traded goals over a two-minutes stretch, as Matye Riley added a Butler goal with 5:51 remaining in the quarter, before Ally Garrett responded for the Penguins with her second goal of the game coming at the 4:38 mark in the third quarter, and then Butler quickly answered just 60 seconds later as Chloe Hall found the back of the net, making the Butler lead 10-6. This would be the last goal that Butler would score.
YSU would finish the third quarter strong with a Sami Drew goal with just 14 seconds remaining in the quarter to cut the deficit to 10-7 heading into the final quarter.
The fourth quarter was one to remember for the Penguins, as the record books would have to be checked by its end. Katie Grottenthaler scored a goal just 19 seconds into the quarter to set the tone for the Penguins, making the score 10-8. Lena Cox would score just 60 seconds later, making it just a one-goal deficit for YSU, and Grace Rund's second goal of the game would follow just 29 seconds later, tying the game at 10. Brooke Peck would give the Penguins their first lead since the opening quarter as she found the back of the net with 11:23 remaining in the fourth quarter, followed by her second goal of the game with 8:16 remaining to push the lead to 12-10 YSU. The Penguins would once again capitalize while playing a player-up, when Grottenthaler would score her second goal of the quarter with 7:13 remaining, and Kreutzer would net her second goal of the game, this one coming with 6:18 remaining, to give the Penguins a four-goal lead. Grottenthaler would cap off the night with a hat-trick securing goal with 4:49 left in regulation, making the score 15-10, which is where it would stand until the final seconds ticked off the clock.
The eight goals scored by the Penguins in the fourth quarter ties a program-record for most goals scored in a single quarter, a feat that was last achieved in the third quarter of the Penguins victory over Saint Francis just two weeks ago on Feb. 16.
YSU doubled up Butler offensively in the shooting category, firing off 36 shots, compared to just 18 for the Bulldogs. YSU had 16 shots in the fourth quarter alone, with nine coming on goal.
YSU would also control the ground ball battle 20-13, while each team controlled 14 draws during the game.
The Penguins will be back in action when they officially hit the road for the first time this season, traveling to Spartanburg, S.C. for a quick turnaround when they face Wofford on Monday. The opening draw is set for 4 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
For news and updates throughout the 2025 women's lacrosse season, follow @YSUwlax on X .
