University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
2-0
Penn State
3-0
Panther Comeback Falls Just Short in OT Loss
2/18/2026 9:19:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
STATE COLLEGE, PA - Pitt women's lacrosse outscored Penn State 7-3 in the second half and overtime, but fell just short in the 12-11 loss at Holuba Hall Wednesday. The matchup was the first ranked vs. ranked game in the Panthers four plus year history.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Unlike the first two games of 2026, Pitt got off to a slow start as Penn State rattled off the first three goals in just over five minutes. The Panthers netted their first goal of the night with 8:54 on the clock thanks to an Avery Moon iso, but the hosts responded with two to close out the period and take a 5-1 lead to the second quarter.
Pitt scored two of the first three in the second thanks to Gigi Leonzi's second of the season and the second of the game by Moon. The momentum was short-lived however and the Nittany Lions closed out the half strong, with three more tallies to Pitt's one (Madeline Mill).
The Panthers came out of the halftime break with a spark, netting the only two goals in the first seven minutes of play (Paige Telatovich & Kaitlyn Giandonato) before Penn State responded with two of their own.
The final 15 minutes of regulation were all Pitt. In a total team effort, the Panthers scored the only five of the period, including the game-tying goal with 11 second on the clock. Goalie Molly Cain made two huge saves, the defense and transition groups caused turnover after turnover and the attack converted as needed to bring the game back. An Emily Clemens hat trick plus a second goal each by Leonzi and Telatovich were enough to send the PA foes into overtime tied at 11.
Each team possessed the ball in their respective offensive zones in the sudden victory period, but the Nittany Lions converted the game-ending play 1:40 into overtime for the 12-11 victory.
GAME NOTES
• Freshman and PIttsburgh native Madeline Mill scored her first career goal.
• Pitt won the draw battle for the third successive game (14-11).
• Gigi Leonzi's four points (2 goals, 2 assists) were a career high.
• Freshman Emily Clemens netted her first career hat trick.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will return home to Highmark Stadium Sunday for another ACC game. Pitt will play the Virginia Tech Hokies, with first draw set for 12 p.m. Admission to all home games is free for all fans.
