After winning its only game last week, the Gannon University lacrosse team is starting to understand something few college students are able to crack, according to coach Steve Wagner – chemistry.
“It feels like, to me, that we are finally figuring out team chemistry, and who this team is for the first time since I took over,” Wagner said.
The 11th-ranked Knights were able to put themselves back in the win column by dispatching Bloomsburg 10-8 on the road Friday night. With the win, Gannon improved its record to 7-3-1 overall and 4-2 in the PSAC West.
The Knights appeared to be reverting to their old ways, when they staked the Huskies to a 3-1 lead over the game’s first 12 minutes.
However, Gannon quickly discovered its offensive stroke, scoring seven of the game’s next nine goals to end the half.
Senior midfielder Mary Eshenour led the charge with four goals to increase her team-leading total to 41. The senior took the game into her own hands after the early deficit, and registered three consecutive scores to give Gannon the lead for good.
Freshman goaltender Margaret Maslyn had arguably her best outing of the year, when she stopped a season-high 12 shots, and limited the opponent to the second-fewest goal total of the season.
Although Gannon was outshot 26-23 by Bloomsberg, Wagner said he saw an assertiveness that was previously absent.
“I didn’t even realize we were down by two goals, because I felt so good about the way we were playing,” he said. “In the earlier games, it felt like we were playing not to lose, whereas we were playing to win here.”
Although Bloomsburg (6-5 overall, 3-3 PSAC West) managed the cut the Gannon lead to two in the second half, before junior Rachel DerCola shut the door on a potential Husky comeback by tallying the Knights’ final goal with 10 minutes remaining.
DerCola’s two goals bookended Gannon’s scoring, and put a fitting exclamation point on a game representative of the season.
“It definitely has been an inconsistent season,” DerCola said. “It’s been a little bit like a roller coaster, but hopefully in the next few games, we’ll be able to get a lot more wins than losses.”
Gannon will have a chance to improve upon their fourth-place standing in the PSAC, as five of the Knights’ last six opponents are conference foes.
Wagner said he feels the win over Bloomsburg should set the Knights up for the final stretch. “I think Bloomsburg was a turning point as far as team attitude,” Wagner said. “As long as we play, and with chemistry the way we did in that game, it doesn’t matter what our record is.”
The Knights will put their newfound confidence to the test when they face PSAC-leading and undefeated Lock Haven Wednesday. The Bald Eagles carry an average margin of victory of 12 goals, and are one of only four undefeated teams in Division II.
DerCola said the game will provide the Knights with an opportunity to play beyond the regular season.
“We’ve never beaten them, so it would be quite the achievement. It could be a preview of the PSACs, when we could potentially meet up with them again, so if we could beat them twice, it would really be something,” she said. “It’s getting down to grind time.”
