Baltimore, MD. – The Youngstown State women's lacrosse team struggled offensively in the second half as they fell to UMBC, 14-5, on Wednesday afternoon.
Gwen Bogash had a superb showing, leading the Penguins with her first three goals of the season. This marked her first multi-goal outing since Apr. 10, 2024, when she played for Notre Dame College, and her first hat trick since Mar. 30, 2024. Ava Kreutzer netted the other two goals for the Penguins, her second multi-goal outing of the season, while also assisting on one of Bogash's goals. Claire Baenziger had the other assist for the 'Guins.
Skylar Pigrom led the team with four ground balls, marking the third-straight game that she has collected that total. Five different Penguins caused one turnover during the contest.
Brooke Harper and Alyssa Edwards split time in the cage, as Harper got the start and played 29:42, saving three shots, while Edwards played 30:18 and saved six shots.
Ava Kreutzer gave YSU its first lead of the season as she scored with 11:55 remaining in the first quarter to give YSU the 1-0 lead. UMBC answered by scoring the next three goals over a span of 48 seconds to gain control, as they would lead for the remainder of the contest. Kreutzer scored her second goal to bring the Penguins back within one at 3-2 with 5:06 left in the first quarter, and that is where the score stood for the rest of the quarter.
The Retrievers scored the first four goals of the second quarter to extend their lead to 7-2, before Gwen Bogash capitalized on the Penguins being a player-up by scoring her first goal of the season with 1:35 left in the second quarter, cutting the deficit to four heading into the locker room.
Bogash followed up her effort to end the first half by scoring off a feed from Claire Baenziger just 62 seconds into the third quarter to make the score 7-4. UMBC answered with a goal of its own before Bogash cut the lead back down to three with 7:34 remaining in the third quarter, marking the closest that YSU would be for the rest of the game. UMBC would score three more goals in the third quarter and add on three more in the fourth to win 14-5.
UMBC outshot YSU, 27-19, while also winning the draw control battle, 12-9.
The Penguins will return home next Friday, Mar. 6, when they play host to the Marquette Golden Eagles inside the Watson and Tressel Training Site. The opening draw is scheduled for noon.
For news and updates throughout the 2026 women's lacrosse season, follow @YSUwlax on X.
