SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University lacrosse team dropped its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) opener to visiting Bloomsburg on Saturday, falling 8-4 to the Huskies on a cool, foggy afternoon at Robb Sports Complex.
 
Shippensburg (4-1, 0-1 PSAC) played strong defense throughout the contest, recording 17 caused turnovers, but was unable to consistently find the back of the net. SU managed 20 shots on the day, with Huskies goalkeeper Angela DiPasquale recording 11 saves.
 
Bloomsburg (4-1, 1-0) capitalized on some early transition scoring opportunities to build a 5-2 halftime lead, as five different Huskies made their way onto the scoresheet in the opening 30 minutes.
 
SU freshman goalkeeper Laney Ballard performed admirably in her second start of the season, making a career-high eight saves – including six in the first half.
 
The two teams each committed 29 turnovers and were within two total shots and three groundballs of one another. They were also even in draw controls; after Bloomsburg recorded a 6-2 edge in the first half, the Raiders managed a 5-1 edge in the second half.
 
Junior Makenzie Magnotta had an exceptional game along the back lines for the Raiders. Magnotta recorded a career-high six caused turnovers while matching a single-game career best with five groundballs. She also won the opening draw of the second half.
 
Sophomore Valerie Hertz had five caused turnovers, bringing her team-best season total to 18 in five games. Hertz also added three groundballs and two draw controls. Senior Annemarie Cericola (Morton, Pa./Ridley) had four groundballs and two caused turnovers.
 
From the midfield, sophomore Madi Newman matched Magnotta with a team-best five groundballs. She also had a draw control and a caused turnover and assisted on SU's final goal – a second-half tally by senior Ali Harclerode.
 
Four different Raiders scored on the day. Sophomore Morgan Stone gave SU a 1-0 lead five minutes into the contest off an assist by senior Amanda Frank. The Raiders would not get another goal until the final two seconds of the opening half, as junior Jordan Kengor caged a long feed from junior Allison Fugate.
 
Fugate scored with 6:23 remaining to make it 8-3 in favor of Bloomsburg, and Harclerode's tally with 5:11 to go made it 8-4. SU held the visitors scoreless for the final 8:02 and managed three shots in the final three minutes, but could not obtain another goal.
 
Bloomsburg got two goals and an assist each from Brigid Kyne and Sydney Collins. DiPasquale, in addition to her 11 saves, also scooped up a team-high four groundballs.
 
Shippensburg returns to action at 4 p.m. Tuesday when it travels to Kutztown for a PSAC clash with the Golden Bears.