Pitt
5-10 (0-7ACC)
Robert Morris
3-11 (2-2MAC)
Three Panthers Record Four Plus Points; Pitt Overwhelms Robert Morris
4/9/2024 11:33:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
PITTSBURGH, PA – Pitt Lacrosse strengthened their grip over the western Pennsylvania lacrosse scene with a Tuesday night rout over Robert Morris, 19-2, at Highmark Stadium.
"Playing Robert Morris is something we have wanted to do for a long time. We want to be competing and dominating western Pennsylvania," said Head Coach Emily Boissonneault after the victory. "We stepped on the field as a team knowing this was an important game for us and for the city."
10 Panthers scored a goal on the night and 14 recorded a point. The 17-goal margin was the second largest in a win this season. "The win was really important for the team. Getting this win was an opportunity to reassure the girls that the work is worth it," Boissonneault added.
Pitt started strong and quickly, with the game's first three goals within the opening five minutes. The three tallies came from the sticks of Sydney Naylor, Ava Washington and Camdyn O'Donnell. Robert Morris countered with one of their two scores of the night, before the Panthers finished off the quarter with three additional goals including two more from Naylor and the first from Jenna Hendrickson.
In the second, the Panthers squeezed out any chance of a Colonial win on the night by outscoring RMU 5-1 in the period and going into the locker room up 11-2. Washington put in two to get her hat trick, Talia Zuco scored her second of the season, Naylor added her fourth in the game and Kendall Barnes slotted in the fourth of her freshman campaign.
The second half allowed Pitt to play the rest of their roster, while still holding down the contest defensively. The Panthers defense allowed zero goals in the final 30 minutes of play while scoring eight of their own. In the third quarter, Avery Moon got on the score sheet with her 10th and 11th of the season, Hendrickson netted one, and Kaitlyn Giandonato became the third freshman of the game to grab a goal.
Washington started the Panther attack off right in the fourth with her fourth and Hendrickson completed her hat trick around three minutes later. The second to last goal of the night for Pitt was one to remember, as sophomore Amelia Haywood converted her first goal in the blue and gold. Devon Cavanaugh rounded out the evening with her fifth goal of the season to extend the Panther lead to 17.
Maureen McNierney only recorded one point Tuesday night, but put in an excellent shift of work, recording two ground balls, two draw controls and causing three turnovers. Zuco's versatility was evident in the game too, as she secured three ground balls and caused two turnovers as well. Once again, all three goalies for Pitt saw action and this time accumulated 11 saves and a season-best .846 save percentage.
Pitt closes the regular season hosting North Carolina Saturday and Clemson next Thursday.
"As we go into these last two regular season games, our number one goal is to compete. Hustle stats, ground balls, draw controls... that is really where we are focused to put ourselves in the best position to win games," Boissonneault said looking ahead.
Saturday's opening draw is scheduled for 12 PM.
