The Gannon University women’s lacrosse team finished its season on a two-game win streak with victories over Edinboro University and Kutztown University.
The Knights defeated the Fighting Scots 13-8 on Wednesday, and cruised to a 16-11 win over the Golden Bears on senior day Saturday.
In the win over Edinboro, freshmen midfielders Kierstyn Haight and Ileyana King each scored two goals to help the Knights jump out to a 5-1 lead in the first half.
Edinboro secured more ground balls than Gannon (21-18), but the Knights dominated the draw control (15-8).
The Fighting Scots were able to knot the game at 7-7 in the second half, but sophomore attacker Tessa Mitchell scored three goals to seal the win.
King finished the game with four assists, two goals and five draw controls.
Freshman goalkeeper Alexis Strouse made 11 saves to improve her record to 5-6 in the cage.
The Knights (8-9, 5-7 PSAC) got off to another strong start on Saturday, taking an early 7-1 first half lead.
Gannon seniors Jess Kallenborn, Heather Vouros and Kelley Sundberg all scored during the five-goal victory.
Vouros said she didn’t know until two days before the game that she would be able to wear her Gannon jersey one last time.
“I hurt my shoulder during the Mercyhurst game and had to miss a couple of games,” she said. “I spent every day up until Saturday rehabbing my shoulder so I could have one last game with my team.”
With Gannon’s senior leadership on the field, the Knights caused 14 turnovers, representing their second-highest season total, and used help from their underclassmen, who tallied 12 of Gannon’s goals.
Sophomore Tessa Mitchell had five goals and one assist while junior Becky Hilker scored four times and assisted on three.
After leading 10-3 at the half, Gannon gave up a 27-13 shots-on-goal advantage to Kutztown, which allowed the Golden Bears to score eight second-half goals.
Sundberg and King finished the game with two goals apiece and Sundberg also added two assists in her final game.
Vourous said that it was worth playing through the pain to take the field for the final time as a Knight.
“I’m glad I was able to step on the field and finish my career playing,” she said. “It was a great way to end it.”
ADAM BLAZEK
