Pitt
1-0
St. Bonaventure
0-1
Naylor Nets Five, Panthers Win Fourth-Straight Season Opener
2/8/2025 6:33:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
ST. BONAVENTURE, NY – Pitt Lacrosse started 2025 the identical way they have in each of their three years of existence, with a win. It took overtime, but the Panthers fought back after halftime to claim the 13-12 season opening win in New York.
"We are proud of the girls fight today," said Head Coach Emily Boissonneault after the game. "Obviously, the first half was not how we intended to play today. We know that our team has so much more in the tank and that was proven in the second half by closing the gap and getting us into overtime."
The Panthers got behind early when St. Bonaventure scored the opening two goals in the first 3:01 of the game. Pitt responded with two scores of their own, both by senior Sydney Naylor. Naylor used her shiftiness to cut past her defender to net her first and scored from the free position for number two on the day. The Bonnies scored two additional first quarter goals that were sandwiched around a Kara Trullender goal and Naylor's third in the opening 15 minutes.
The second quarter was all SBU on the offensive end, as they outscored the Panthers 6-1 to take a 10-5 lead into the locker room. Senior Jill Fenech scored her 14th goal in her career to get the only tally on the visitor side in the quarter.
Pitt knew coming out of halftime that they would have to respond if they were to get back into the contest and respond the Panthers did. The visitors scored the only three goals of the third thanks to Emily Coughlin, Jenna Hendrickson and Avery Moon. The defense stood firm with a caused turnovers and four saves by junior goalie Molly Cain to help get Pitt in striking distance entering the last period of play.
The blue and gold momentum continued early on in the fourth, which saw Pitt net the first two goals by Naylor and Hendrickson to tie the game. The Bonnies retook the lead before the Panthers scored two of their own that included a fifth from Naylor and a second from Coughlin. The five goals on the day tied the career high in a game for Naylor. SBU grabbed the last goal in regulation to tie the game and neither team scored on their last possessions to force the game to go into overtime.
Sophomore transfer Aidan Carr grabbed her sixth draw control of the game to give Pitt control to start overtime, control that would never be relinquished. Hendrickson took one shot that hit the post before picking up the ground ball and leading to additional Panther possession. The visitors worked the ball around the offensive zone and eventually earned a free position chance for senior Talia Zuco. Zuco made the most of her best opportunity to score and converted from the eight meter to give Pitt the win.
Cain finished with nine saves, the second most in a single game in her career.
"It started with the defense only allowing two goals in the second half, to Talia finishing her eight meter in overtime, it was a full team effort," Boissonneault continued. "Looking forward to our next game, we are focused on starting the way we finished today."
Pitt opens their home schedule next, with a matchup against Arizona State at Highmark Stadium on Wednesday, February 12. Admission is free for all fans.
For all things Pitt Lacrosse, follow the team on Instagram and X: @Pitt_WLAX.
