Youngstown, Ohio - The Youngstown State women's lacrosse team dropped a tough 14-13 decision to Akron in their Mid-American Conference opener on Sunday afternoon at the Watson and Tressel Site.
The scoring was well-balanced for the Penguins as Katie Grottenthaler, Ava Kreutzer, Grace Rund, and Mia Yuris each tied for the team lead with two goals.
Grottenthaler added a team-high two assists to finish with a team-high four points, while also garnering six draw controls to lead the Penguins.
Tori Bustamante led the defense once again, causing a team-high four turnovers.
Brooke Harper and Liz Amos both played over 20 minutes in the cage today, with Amos getting the start. She had five saves while allowing six goals in 22 minutes, while Harper had six saves while allowing eight goals in 36 minutes.
Unlike the last few games, the Penguins fell behind early, as Akron scored the game's opening three goals. Mia Yuris scored YSU's first goal right before the first quarter buzzer with only one second remaining, making the score 3-1.
The Penguins offense started to find a rhythm to start the second quarter, as Brooke Peck scored just 38 seconds into the quarter, and was followed up by Yuris' second goal of the day to tie the score at three with 12:38 remaining in the second quarter. The Zips then scored the next two goals, taking a 5-3 lead at the 9:29 mark of the second quarter. The two teams split the next two goals, with Katie Grottenthaler bringing the Penguins back within one goal with 8:12 remaining in the quarter to make the score 5-4, and Lena Cox brought the Penguins within one goal again at 6-5 with 5:26 remaining in the quarter. After a Zips goal pushed their lead up to 7-5 with a Sienna Hinchcliffe goal at the 2:57 mark of the second quarter, YSU had a very strong finish to a quarter for the second time during the game. Grottenthaler netted her team-leading 28th goal of the season and second goal of the game to bring the Penguins back within one goal at the 1:27 mark, and then Grace Rund took advantage of YSU being a player-up as she tied the game with 32 seconds remaining in the half, tying the game at seven heading into the break.
Ally Garrett gave the Penguins their first lead of the game at 8-7 with a goal at the 12:42 mark of the third quarter. Akron tied the game at eight as Hinchcliffe scored her second goal of the game with 7:16 remaining in the third, before Grace Rund scored her second goal of the game just 26 seconds later to put the Penguins back on top at 9-8. That score would stay the same through the rest of the quarter, giving YSU a one-goal lead heading into the final frame.
Akron started the fourth quarter with heavy momentum, as Heather Carey tied the game at nine with 13:26 remaining in the fourth quarter, and Kaitlyn Sikorski gave the Zips the lead at 10-9 with 12:25 remaining in regulation. Genna Cooke found the back of the net for the sixth time of the season to bring the Penguins back even at 10 just 25 seconds later with 11:50 on the clock. The next four minutes were a game of quick runs, as Akron scored two-straight goals to take a 12-10 lead with 9:43 remaining, before being answered by back-to-back goals from the Penguins, the first from Ava Kreutzer at the 8:37 mark, and the second from Gwen Bogash, her first of the season, to tie the game at 12 with 6:42 remaining. Katie Baumer put Akron back ahead at 13-12 with 5:48 on the clock, before Kreutzer scored an incredible behind-the-back goal through contact to tie the game once again at 13 with 2:56 left, the seventh tie of the game. Noelle Boyd scored the eventual game-winning goal with 1:15 remaining, giving Akron a 14-13 victory.
The game was very balanced in most facets, as the Zips just edged out YSU in shots, 33-30.
The Zips did have a heavy control of the draws throughout the game, winning the battle 20-10, including an 8-3 edge in the fourth quarter.
The Penguins will have another week off before their next game, as they will travel to Ypsilanti, Mich. next Sunday, Mar. 23, to face Eastern Michigan. The opening draw is slated for 3 p.m.
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