Lander Uses Strong 1st, 3rd Quarters to Defeat Women's Lacrosse

GREENWOOD, S.C. – The Frostburg State Women's Lacrosse team concluded their spring break trip down south with an 18-11 loss to Lander on Thursday evening.

Frostburg earned the first possession on offense with freshman Maya Mosslih scooping up the first draw control of the game, but a Bobcat turnover was punished by Lander taking the ball back and marching down field for the first goal of the game 38 seconds into play. The Bearcats fired back-to-back shots on their next possession, as a ground ball from junior Nicole Gray in goal led to FSU having possession on the other end, with senior Camden DeMaio slicing one into the back of the net almost two minutes later for a 1-1 game. Both teams traded a pair of turnovers on their next possessions, with Mosslih and sophomore Jessie Bare each being credited with a caused turnover, as LU found the next goal at the 9:23 mark taking a 2-1 lead. Gray recorded her first save of the day on the next shot from Lander, as after back and forth play the Bearcats tacked on another goal to their lead to see the game at 3-1. On their next offensive try, LU found themselves with a free position attempt, finding the back of the next once more for a 4-1 score. Mosslih recorded another caused turnover on the next play, as Gray denied another shot from Lander, before the Bearcats put back-to-back goals on the board on a free position attempt and a man-up opportunity, to increase their lead to 6-1. With 24 seconds left in the first, junior Julia Badolato fired FSU's second shot of the game, being denied by the goalie, as LU led 6-1 after one.

The Bobcats struck first in the second quarter, finding themselves on offense 2:45 in, where sophomore Neila Haney found senior Anna Kearney for a 6-2 score. Junior Kerri Hayes then picked up the next draw control, setting up FSU's offense, allowing Frostburg to earn a free position. Off the attempt, Kearney found graduate Lilly Stephens to bring the game to 6-3. Lander responded right away on their next two trips down the field, knotting back-to-back goals to push ahead 8-3. Gray found herself with another save as the Bearcats saw another try at goal, before the Bobcats pushed down field, allowing DeMaio to send the ball wide, before Hayes put one in the back of the net for an 8-4 score. Gray was credited with another save as Hayes caused a turnover to set herself up for another try at goal, where she sent her shot wide. Frostburg was able to regain possession, as Stephens was able to dish the ball to sophomore Emily Lamoreaux to bring FSU within three. Once again, LU fired back right away, capitalizing on a free position man-up opportunity to hold a 9-5 advantage with 4:23 remaining in the half. Just over two minutes later, the Bearcats added another one to their lead, as the Bobcats were able to respond on their next offensive try with Badolato succeeding on a free position attempt to see a 10-6 game. With seconds left on the clock, Badolato snuck another shot by Lander's keeper, allowing the score to read 10-7 in favor of LU at the half.

FSU fired the first four shots of the second half, as both Haney and sophomore Isabelle Kelly caused turnovers on the defensive end, not allowing Lander to see a shot for the first five minutes of the third. Gray knocked down the first two Bearcat shots in the quarter, before LU was able to get one by for a 11-7 score. Mosslih quickly scooped up the draw control on the next
play, allowing Badolato to find Lamoreaux for the Bobcats' first goal of the half, bringing the game to 11-8. As they continued to do all game, Lander responded right away, marching down on their next possession to increase the score to 12-8. The Bearcats put another in the back of the net again on the very next possession, as Haney fired away at shot at goal, but was denied. Gray earned herself another save, before Lander found themselves with another goal and a 14-8 advantage. The Bobcats took a timeout, putting junior Grace Dickey in at goal, as Haney attempted another try at goal before LU knotted another for a 15-8 game heading into the fourth and final quarter.

Lander continued to dominate offensively, taking the first shot of the fourth, with Dickey earning her first save of the game, before the Bearcats tacked on another goal almost a minute later to double FSU's score at 16-8. Dickey picked up another save, as DeMaio saw another rip at goal before neither team saw a shot for nearly three minutes. Around the halfway mark of the quarter, junior Brittyn Leonard got on the board, knotting a goal on a free position attempt for FSU's first goal of the fourth. The Bearcats responded right away once again, scooping up the draw control, setting up their offense, and connecting for a 17-9 game. Graduate Marua O'Neill continued to push Frostburg's defense and cause turnovers, trying to get the Bobcats a look at offense. With 3:51 left in regulation, Lamoreaux secured another goal, slicing one by the goalie on a man-up opportunity to see the score at 17-10. Junior Savanna Reitz picked up the next draw control with Leonard assisting Haney on another man-up opportunity for a 17-11 game. Each team took another shot over the next three minutes, before LU added one more to their lead with 30 seconds left, going on to take the game with a final score of 18-11.

Lamoreaux secured a hat trick on the day, with Badolato picking up two goals, as six other Bobcats got in on the scoring action with one each, while five dished out an assist. Haney, Mosslih, and O'Neill were credited with two caused turnovers each, as Gray made nine saves in goal and Dickey made two.

With the loss, Frostburg concludes their spring break trip sitting at an overall record of 4-5, while Lander improves to 5-4. The Bobcats come back home to begin MEC play, hosting West Virginia Wesleyan at 6 PM on Wednesday, March 27. For more information and updates, please visit frostburgsports.com.