Box Score (Box score not available until Wednesday)INDIANA, Pa. – Sarah Harshman netted five goals and the Crimson Hawks outscored Gannon 8-3 in the second half as the IUP women's lacrosse team defeated the Golden Knights 17-10 for its first conference victory on Tuesday at Miller Stadium.
The Crimson Hawks improve to 3-4 overall with the win, including an even 1-1 mark in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). Gannon falls to 3-4 overall and 0-2 in the conference.
After an early goal by the Golden Knights, IUP rallied with three straight, getting scores from Harshman,
Carissa Smith (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) and
Bailey McLeish (Courtice, Ontario/Anderson C.V.I) to take a 3-1 lead just five minutes into the game.
Gannon came back with two straight to knot the game at 3-3 just five minutes later, but a 4-0 run by the Crimson Hawks gave them a 7-3 lead with 12 minutes to go. The Golden Knights outscored IUP 4-2 before halftime, but goals by
Kim Hooven (Malvern/Great Valley) and
Maddie Poehlman (Ellicott City, Md./Seton Keough (Howard C.C.)) helped the Crimson Hawks take a 9-7 lead into the break.
IUP came out hot in the second half, with Harshman scoring two of the Crimson Hawks' four goals as they took a 13-7 lead with 22 minutes left to go.
The Crimson Hawks would only let Gannon get as close as five goals the rest of the way, getting insurance goals by
Tara Nicholas (Germantown, MD/Northwest) and Smith in the final minutes as they came away with the seven-goal victory.
Along with Harshman, Brittany Palardy scored three goals, her first of the season. Nicholas, Hooven, McLeish and Smith all had a pair of goals.
Amy Weinberg (Clarksville, MD/Atholton) tallied a pair of assists and also caused four turnovers, got two draw controls and picked up a ground ball. McLeish caused three turnovers while Hooven and Natlie Morano both caused two. Smith and Morano both picked up three ground balls and Hooven controlled three draws.
The Crimson Hawks are back in action on Friday as they look to even their record when they host Millersville. First draw comes at 4 p.m.
Visit www.IUPAthletics.com for up-to-date information and follow the Crimson Hawks on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk.
