LATROBE, Pa. (March 20) – A big third quarter surge lifted visiting Muskingum University to a 21-7 victory over Saint Vincent in a non-conference women's lacrosse match at a windswept UPMC Field.
 
After the Bearcats (0-4) and Muskies (7-2) traded scores over the duration of the first half, the Muskies scored seven unanswered goals in the third quarter to pull away.
 
Bailey Nicely recorded four points, on two goals and two assists, to lead the Bearcats, while Carolina Walters and Lena Coyne each scored two goals apiece. Bethany Smith (one goal) and Gabby Salandro (one assist) also found the scoresheet for SVC.
 
Smith led the Bearcats with six draw controls, while Madison Weber added five. Kyra Lipetzky collected a team-high four ground balls, with Bailey Nicely scooping up three. Defensively, Salandro, Nicely, Walters, Brianna Mack and Alexandria Votovich each had one caused turnover.
 
Lipetzky started and played the first 48 minutes in goal, making 12 saves.
 
Coyne gave the Bearcats a 1-0 lead with her first goal of the afternoon three minutes into the first quarter, and from there, the teams exchanged goals for the remainder of the period. Walters, Smith and Nicely all scored first quarter tallies, as the teams ended the frame deadlocked at 4-4.
 
Walters' second goal of the day pulled SVC to within one, 6-5, with 9:48 left in the second quarter, and after Muskingum scored twice in a 50-second span, Coyne's second tally cut the gap to 8-6 with 4:22 left in the half. The Muskies would then take control in the final minutes of the half, scoring twice over the final 80 seconds to take a 10-6 lead into the intermission.
 
Muskingum stayed hot in the second half, outscoring SVC 7-0 in the third quarter, before outscoring the hosts 4-1 in the final frame to close out the win.
 
Muskingum's Hannah Heyboer tallied a game-high 11 points, on three goals and eight assists, while teammate Riley Hudock scored five goals with one assist to power the Muskie offense.
 
The Bearcats will now have a three-day layoff before returning home to host Ursuline in a non-conference matinee at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 24. The Bearcats will recognize Lipetzky on her Senior Day prior to opening draw.