Box Score After being knocked out at home in last year's PSAC Quarterfinal with a heartbreaking loss to West Chester, the Griffins women's lacrosse team was in the same position on Tuesday afternoon as they hosted Indiana (PA) in a PSAC Quarterfinal. This year would be different as the Griffins jumped out to an early 9-2 lead. IUP then went on a six goal run to cut the lead to 9-8 early in the second half. The Griffins then showed the character and heart of a champion as they went on a 6-0 run in the second half to pull away for a 17-11 win. With the victory, the Griffins improve to 14-4 overall.
Seton Hill scored first when
Emma Simmers scored on a free position shot just over four minutes into the contest. Just over a minute later,
Renee Kania scored from
Emily Fagan to give SHU a 2-0 lead. A minute later Kania found Simmers for her second goal of the contest, forcing an IUP timeout. That timeout could not kill the Griffins momentum as
Christine Palmeri won the draw control and Simmers scored an unassisted goal to give SHU a 4-0 lead with 22:54 left in the half. IUP scored their first goal thirty seconds later. SHU responded with three straight goals to build their lead to 7-1. Fagan scored from Simmers then Palmeri scored a man up goal from
Savannah Monroe. Fagan closed the run with a goal from Kania at the 16:44 mark of the half. After IUP scored at the 15 minute mark, back to back free position shot goals from
Keagan Pontious and
Alessandra Nicholas increased the lead to 9-2 with 6:06 left in the half. IUP scored the final three goals of the half in the last 2:17 to cut the Griffins lead to 9-5 at the half.
IUP won the first three draw controls of the half and scored on each of those possessions to cut the Griffins lead to 9-8 less than five minutes into the second half. Pontious then won the Griffins first draw control of the half which finally resulted in a goal for the Griffins. A great effort from Kania gave the Griffins a 10-8 lead. Kania's first shot was stopped but she fought for the rebound and found the back of the net to end the IUP run. Kania's play sparked the Griffins as they then went on a 6-0 run to retake control of the contest. Back to back goals from Fagan pushed the lead to 12-8 with just under 19 minutes left in the half. Simmers and Kania assisted on Fagan's goals. Monroe scored her first of the game to increase the lead to 13-8. Pontious then scored back to back goals to cap off the 6-0 run and give SHU a 15-8 lead with 12:08 to play. Fagan and Palmeri assisted on the goals. IUP scored two free position shots to cut the lead to 15-10 before Fagan and Simmers scored to push the lead right back to seven at 17-10 with 5:50 left. IUP scored the final goal of the contest with 44 seconds to play.
Emily Fagan led the Griffin offense with 5 goals and 3 assists.
Emma Simmers was right behind her with 4 goals and 3 assists.
Keagan Pontious added 3 goals.
Renee Kania finished the contest with 2 goals and 3 assists.
Christine Palmeri and
Savannah Monroe each added a goal and an assist.
Meghan Hollar recorded 8 saves in cage.
Seton Hill advances to their first ever PSAC semifinal on Friday. The Griffins will take on number 1 seed, #1 team in the country and host Lock Haven at 1 PM.
