via Stetson press release, photo by Steve Simoneau

BOX SCORE

DeLand, Fla. — The Stetson University lacrosse team played a back-and-forth game with Gardner-Webb University Saturday afternoon at the ATC, but the Hatters came up just short in the end, falling to the Bulldogs 14-12. 

For the third game in a row, the Hatters (3-5) scored the game’s opening goal as Saige-Lyn Gidzinski found the back of the net at the 12:22 mark in the opening quarter. Jessica Duggan then put the Hatters up 2-0 at the 6:30 mark, but the Bulldogs (4-3) scored two unanswered goals to end the quarter. In the 2nd, neither Stetson nor Gardner-Webb held a lead longer than 5:00 as the Hatters and Bulldogs traded goals back-and-forth and went into the break knotted up at 4-4. 

After the break, GWU took a 6-4 lead with 10:11 left in the 3rd but less than two minutes later, the Hatters used a Jordyn Humphrey goal to tie the game at 6-6 on an assist from Gidzinski. The two squads traded goals once again for the rest of the quarter but in the last minute of the 3rd, the Bulldogs scored two in a row to take a 10-8 lead. Then in the 4th, Stetson’s Katie Kornacki found the back of the GWU net on an assist from Samantha Paglino to knot the contest at 12-12, but wiith 3:38 left in regulation, the Bulldogs took another lead as the Hatters ran out of time to answer back, falling 14-12. 

The Hatters and the Bulldogs matched each other goal-for-goal as the two teams scored two in the 1st, two in the 2nd, and four in the 4th with GWU’s six in the 3rd ultimately being the difference.

Kornacki led the Stetson offense as the freshman scored four goals on the afternoon while fellow frshman Mia Judd led the Hatters defense with four caused turnovers. Kiera McCarthy made 10 saves in goal for the Hatters.

The Stetson lacrosse team will be back in action on Wednesday, March 23 as the Hatters head to Gainesville to take on University of Florida at 4:30 p.m. 

About Stetson University Athletics:Stetson University’s Athletics Program is driven by a shared purpose. It is what inspires, motivates and binds us together. More than a task, a reason for being. THE HATTER PURPOSEis to create and provide an experience of a lifetime through teamwork and relationships to achieve excellence. This purpose is achieved through five Core Values: Communication, Integrity, Excellence, Value People and Commitment. To learn more about the HATS program and our Core Values, visit GoHatters.com/HATS (PDF).

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