Shippensburg University’s women’s lacrosse team went 1-1 this week, falling to the West Chester Golden Rams on Wednesday and defeating the Millersville Marauders on Saturday. The win against Millersville was the team’s first PSAC win of the season moving their PSAC record to 1-8 and their overall record to 3-11. 

 Wednesday afternoon, Shippensburg faced No. 2 West Chester for its Autism Awareness game. 

 The Raiders held their first Autism Awareness game due to advocacy from one of their players, Bridget Cox. For the game, the players wore special ribbons in support and Bill Morgal, SU sports information director, read off a special message before the national anthem. 

Cox is a freshman goalkeeper on the team who recently revealed to her teammates that she has autism spectrum disorder (also known as ASD). She approached SU’s head coach, Brooke Dellavalle, with the idea and she was immediately on board. Cox hopes to help people understand that anyone with autism or any other mental condition is not missing anything but rather they “see the world through a different lens.”

Cox said, “I want people to just be patient and accepting of everyone no matter if they’re neurodivergent or not. We’re all human and in the end, it doesn’t matter that we are different.” 

Facing No. 2 West Chester could have seemed like a big task for the Raiders, but the motivation they had for their teammate was evident on the field. The Raiders were the first on the score board with a quick goal by junior Sara Vosburg, assisted by sophomore Ali Pioli. The first quarter, from then on, was back and forth, ultimately ending 3-3. 

In the second quarter, the Raiders could not keep their gritty momentum and the Rams capitalized offensively, scoring seven goals. 

SU put in great effort in the second half, winning the third quarter frame 4-3 and being the last team on the scoreboard with a finish at 13 seconds by Emily Fenwick. The Rams came out on top in the end, 19-8. 

Junior Jamie Carvin recorded her fourth hat trick of the season. Vosburg added two goals, an assist and a team-high four draw controls. Fenwick finished with two goals and Pioli totaled one goal, two assists, four groundballs, two draw controls and one caused turnover. 

Saturday afternoon, the Raiders secured their first PSAC win of the season against Millersville University. 

The first half was a back-and-forth battle, both teams adding goals to the board. Vosburg netted the first two Raiders at the 10th and eight minute of the first quarter. 

  Heading into the second half, the score was tied 8-8. The Raiders created an offensive cushion in the third quarter, outscoring the Marauders 5-0. By the end of regulation, Shippensburg stayed on top to solidify their win, 15-10. 

Seven Raiders tallied goals in the contest. Vosburg led the Raiders with a career-high tying six goals. Junior Jamie Carvin added four, her career high. Senior Payton Margerum, first-year Ava Collins, Fenwick, Pioli and first-year Brynn Hauck all contributed one goal each. Hauck’s tally was her first collegiate goal. 

Defensively, junior goalkeeper Kayla Vosburg recorded 13 saves. Sophomore Grace DeMarzio posted four groundballs and four draw controls and junior Annie Rathgeb posted three caused turnovers. 

The Raiders next PSAC matchup is away against Shepherd University on Wednesday, April 24, at 3 p.m.  

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