The Shippensburg University lacrosse team dropped its second consecutive conference match by just one goal on Tuesday, as the Raiders came up short in a 17-16 overtime loss at Bloomsburg on a cold afternoon at Steph Pettit Stadium.
Shippensburg (3-3, 0-2 PSAC) and Bloomsburg (3-2, 1-1) were tied 8-8 at halftime and 16-16 at the end of regulation. Along the way, the two teams played to 12 tie scores and had seven lead changes in a back-and-forth matchup in which neither team led by more than three goals at any juncture.
A host of Raiders put forth memorable performances. On defense, freshman goalkeeper KiKi Brasher was credited with 22 saves — the most by a Raider in 14 years. Brasher made five of her 22 saves in overtime to stave off Husky scoring chances, she also made 10 saves in the first half and seven saves in the second half.
Freshman Alana Cardaci scored six goals — three in each half — bringing her season total to 18 through six games. Cardaci’s six goals are the most in a single game by a Raider in three years. It is the most goals scored by an SU freshman in a single game in more than 15 years. Cardaci also had one assist to finish with a seven-point afternoon.
SU’s Jordan Kengor led the SU offense on Saturday, as the Raiders fell 15-7 to Mercyhurst University. Kengor scored two goals on the day for the Raiders.
Junior defensive captain Valerie Hertz recorded a career-high 11 draw controls — the most by a Raider in two seasons — and just the fifth time in school history a player has achieved double-digit draw controls in a game. Hertz also was credited with three caused turnovers and two groundballs on the day.
Junior Morgan Stone recorded her second hat trick of the season and has already achieved a single-season career high with 10 goals this season. Stone added two groundballs, two draw controls and one caused turnover.
Freshman Maddy Siejk finished with two goals, an assist, two caused turnovers, two groundballs and two draw controls. Fellow freshman Jena MacDonald also had a three-point day, scoring a goal and contributing two assists to go along with one caused turnover and a groundball.
Ten SU players finished the game with at least one point, as eight different Raiders scored a goal and two others added an assist.
Senior defensive captain Makenzie Magnotta had another stellar game along the back lines, leading the team with six groundballs and also recording two caused turnovers. Brasher also added three groundballs from the cage.
All three of SU’s losses this season have been by just one goal. The setback is the second straight for the Raiders in which they were playing down one player due to a yellow card issued in the final minutes.
Shippensburg traveled to Erie for a noon matchup on Saturday at No. 22 Mercyhurst, where SU fell, 15-7. SU was led by Jordan Kengor, who scored two goals in the loss.
SU, (3-4, 0-3 PSAC) will host Kutztown University on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
Notes: Brasher’s 22 saves are the most in a single game by a Raider since Kelby Vanous made 24 saves in a 13-7 victory over Bloomsburg on April 15, 2004 — a span of 227 games.
Cardaci’s six goals are the most in a single game by a Raider since Sheila Johnson scored six goals against West Chester on April 14, 2015 — a span of 43 games.
Hertz’s 11 draw controls are the most in a single game by a Raider since Max Barkley had 11 on April 16, 2016, against Edinboro.
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