Pitt
5-3
Liberty
6-3
Moon Nets Career-Best Four Goals; Pitt Wins Third-Straight Game
3/12/2025 9:59:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
PITTSBURGH – Pitt Lacrosse won their third game in a row for only the second time in program history Wednesday, as the Panthers defeated the Liberty Flames 15-6 at Highmark Stadium.
"We know that we are finding success and that we are growing," Head Coach Emily Boissonneault said after the victory. "Today was a positive result that allows the outside world to see our growth and positive change."
The afternoon non-conference contest started out tight, with Liberty opening and closing the scoring in the quarter, book-ending two Pitt goals in between. Sophomore Kaitlyn Giandonato, after not scoring last game, opened the offensive output for the hosts with a nice breakdown of her defender. Senior Jill Fenech took the feed from Sydney Naylor and put it away for goal number two. The teams combined for 19 turnovers in a chaotic opening period that ended knotted at two.
Pitt started to gain control in the second quarter, scoring the first four goals of the period. Avery Moon scored her first two of the game thanks to transition defense and ball movement by Giandonato and then a perfect lead pass by Fenech. Jenna Hendrickson scored the next two, one from the eight meter and one thanks to more transition work by Emily Coughlin this time. Liberty did get two goals back of their own, with a Kayli Carannante score in between (her sixth of the year) leading to a 7-4 Pitt lead at the halftime break.
The Flames scored the opening goal of the second half and looked to gain momentum, but the Panthers quickly shut that down by going on a seven to nothing goal run between the remainder of the third and beginning of the fourth quarter. Moon scored her third and fourth, the first time she's scored four times in a game. Carannante, Fenech, Giandonato and Hendrickson each added an additional score and leading scorer Sydney Naylor put her 22nd in the back of the net. Liberty scored their sixth and final goal of the match-up before Fenech finished off her hat trick.
"We had a shaky first quarter, but really pulled it together in the second and rest of the game," Fenech said about Wednesday's performance. "We stayed composed, rode hard on transition and scouted hard leading into the game," said Moon after the win.
The Panthers set program record for ground balls (30) and caused turnovers (22), while defender Natalie Voorhees picked up a program-record seven ground balls and caused a program-record six turnovers. Seven Pitt players recorded a draw control on the night, with Giandonato leading the way (4). Goalie Molly Cain stopped seven Flames' shots.
Pitt closes out their home stand with another ACC battle, this time against No. 8 Syracuse. First draw is scheduled for 11 AM at Highmark Stadium. Admission is free for all fans.
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