Panthers Close Out Regular Season with 13-8 Win Over George Mason

Tuesday, April 19

Pittsburgh, PA

5:00 PM

Pitt

8-9

George Mason

3-13

George Mason

Pitt

Panthers Close Out Regular Season with 13-8 Win Over George Mason

4/19/2022 7:54:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

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PITTSBURGH – Pitt used a 6-2 third quarter charge to break open a two-goal game and cap off regular season play with a 13-8 win over George Mason Tuesday evening at Highmark Stadium. Carlie Leach recorded two goals and two assists, while Madisyn Kittell added three points (1G, 2A) to pace the Panther offensive attack.

"The girls love playing at Highmark," said Head Coach Emily Boissonneault. "For our thirteen graduates, it was a big day."

Paulina DiFatta recorded 10 saves for her eighth double-digit save game of the season and Pitt collected 10 caused turnovers, while holding the Patriots offense in check for the bulk of the game.

George Mason's Shannon Tuozzo opened the scoring at the 9:41 mark before Maureen McNierney tied the contest 1-1 on her eighth goal of the season with 4:44 remaining in the opening quarter. The Malverne, N.Y., native slipped a shot into the lower left side from just inside the right hash at the eight-meter. Ava Washington added a woman-up goal off an assist from behind the cage by Kittell with 14.9 seconds remaining to send the Panthers into the quarter break with a 2-1 advantage.

Morgan Gunn tied the game up at 2-2 with a free position goal for George Mason at the 11:17 mark, but Kittell quickly countered at the 9:59 mark, using a nifty dodge around a defender from the left side of the cage before beating the goalie low side. Carlie Leach added a woman-up, free position goal just 27 seconds later to push the Panther lead to 4-2.

Tuozzo scored her second goal of the game with 7:54 left in the half, but Pitt once again responded. Payton Reed picked up a ground ball off a failed clear by George Mason and pushed pass ahead to Leach in the scoring zone. After drawing a pair of defenders, Leach fed Kierin Ratliff-Kailbourne for her 19^th goal of the season at the 3:30 mark for a 5-3 advantage Pitt would carry into the half.

Paige Petty extended her consecutive games with a point streak (78) and goals streak (45) 34 seconds into the second half to push the lead to 6-3 and Emily Coughlin got into the scoring act with an unassisted goal, her eighth of the season, at the 13:33 mark of the third. Gunn briefly halted the Pitt momentum with a free position goal at the 7:40 mark but the Panthers countered with three consecutive goals.

Dylana Williams used a face dodge from the top of the scoring arc and beat the goalie left side of the cage with just over five minutes left in the corner for an 8-4 lead. Kittell fed McNierney from behind the cage for her second goal of the game with 3:05 left in the third and Leach scored with 1:02 left to push the advantage to six goals.

Tuozzo scored her third goal of the game for the Patriots with just 23 seconds remaining in the third quarter to trim the Pitt lead to 10-5, but Pitt countered quickly with a goal with just 5.6 second remaining. Petty won the draw and advanced the ball to Leach behind the cage who then fed a streaking Washington who ripped a shot into the upper corner of the net for her second goal of the game.

Sydney Naylor beat a pair of defenders and the goalie high side to open the scoring in the fourth quarter with 6:45 remaining and Talia Zuco tacked on a woman-up goal at the 5:22 mark to extend the Pitt lead to 13-5. George Mason scored the final three goals of the game to trim the margin to five goals.

Ten different Panthers scored on the day. "When we move the ball well and everyone sees the net, we are much more successful," continued Boissonneault.

Pitt concludes the regular season 8-9 overall and 1-7 in ACC play. The Panthers dropped a pair of one-goal contests in conference play and are 0-5 against ranked opponents. The Panthers open ACC Tournament play in South Bend, Ind., Wednesday, April 27.