SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University lacrosse team could not overcome a slow start on Saturday, falling 11-5 to visiting No. 18 IUP in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) matchup on Make-A-Wish Day from Robb Sports Complex.
 
Shippensburg (5-3, 1-3 PSAC) was held scoreless for the first 25 minutes of play and ultimately could not recover despite holding IUP (4-3, 3-0) scoreless for more than 20 minutes midway through the contest. The Raiders scored four straight goals spanning the 4:26 mark of the first half through the 17:54 mark of the second half, but caged just one tally the rest of the way.
 
IUP raced out to a 5-0 lead in the first nine minutes of play and was very efficient in the opening half, scoring on six of its first eight shot attempts. Ally Burrows finished with a hat trick for the Crimson Hawks, while Kim Hooven totaled five points.
 
A significant factor in the contest was the excellent goaltending of IUP's Angela Lontoc, who finished with 16 saves (eight in each half). It is the most saves made by an opposing goalkeeper against the Raiders in a PSAC match since the 2011 season.
 
Shippensburg's defense once again forced significant turnovers from the opponent – 28 by the Crimson Hawks on Saturday. SU also had an edge in shots (26-23) and groundballs (26-22) in the contest, while draw controls were an even 9-9. All eight of Shippensburg's opponents this season have committed at least 20 turnovers.
 
Five different Raiders scored a goal on the day. Senior Amanda Frank had a goal and two assists. Frank assisted on SU's first goal, a first-half tally by senior Ali Harclerode. Junior T.J. Johnson picked up her first goal of the year and assisted on SU's last goal, a tally from sophomore Maggie Lawshe. Sophomore Morgan Stone scored on a free position.
 
Senior Annemarie Cericola, ranked among Division II's Top 5 players in groundballs per game, added four to her total on Saturday and had three caused turnovers. Sophomore Valerie Hertz also had three caused turnovers and also collected two draw controls. Junior Makenzie Magnotta had a strong day with four groundballs and two caused turnovers.
 
Senior Max Barkley had three draw controls and three groundballs, while junior Caroline Carbonaro and Harclerode also collected three groundballs. Sophomore Bridgette Morrissey finished with two saves.
 
Shippensburg will play its next four games on the road, beginning at 4 p.m. Tuesday when it travels to Millersville for a PSAC clash with the Marauders.