SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University lacrosse team rallied from a three-goal deficit late in the second half on Saturday to tie its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) opener with Gannon, but the Golden Knights scored with 26 seconds remaining to post an 11-10 victory over the Raiders on a cold and windy afternoon at Robb Sports Complex.
 
Shippensburg (3-2, 0-1 PSAC) held a 5-3 lead at halftime, committing just six turnovers in the first 30 minutes compared to 12 by Gannon (2-1, 1-0). SU grabbed a 2-1 lead just over three minutes into the game and maintained that advantage eight minutes into the second half. The Golden Knights then embarked upon a 4-0 run to take a 10-7 lead with 12:22 remaining.
 
Raider coach Nicole Miller called a timeout following the 10th GU tally and the Raiders responded by keeping the visitors off the scoresheet until the final minute. SU scored twice in a two-minute span after the timeout to make it 10-9, but then both teams went scoreless for more than eight minutes. The second tally of the day by senior Allison Fugate tied the score at 10-10 with 1:41 left.
 
Shippensburg won the ensuing draw, but a turnover gave possession to Gannon with 78 seconds remaining. With the shot clock now turned off, Golden Knight coach Kerry O'Donnell called timeout and grabbed the dry erase board to draw up a play.
 
SU stopped the first two Gannon attempts – including a huge save by freshman KiKi Brasher on a free position – but the Raiders could never corral the ball – and a third chance by Gannon's Kat Martinelli found the back of the net. Gannon won the ensuing draw and maintained possession through the final whistle.
 
The Raider defense was strong throughout the game and produced two impressive scoring droughts for the visitors, holding Gannon without a goal for a 15-minute stretch and a 13-minute stretch in the first half along with the 12-minute span late in the game. Brasher finished with 12 saves – her third double-digit saves performance of the season.
 
SU's two defensive captains – senior Makenzie Magnotta and junior Valerie Hertz – combined for six groundballs and five caused turnovers. Magnotta posted season highs with four groundballs and three caused turnovers, while Hertz totaled four draw controls, two caused turnovers and two groundballs. Senior Caroline Carbonaro added three groundballs from the back lines.

Freshman midfielder Maddy Siejk had her best game to date as a Raider, pacing the offense with her first career hat trick while also scooping up a career-high four groundballs. Siejk also had a caused turnover and a draw control.
 
Fugate finished with two goals, a caused turnover and a groundball. Freshman Alana Cardaci scored twice, bringing her team-leading goal total to 12 through five games.
 
Junior Madi Newman had a goal, two assists and two draw controls. Senior captain Jordan Kengor and junior Kyra Shank also scored for the Raiders, while freshman Jena MacDonald contributed three assists. Freshman Jessica DeMarte and junior Morgan Stone combined for five draw controls.
 
Gannon got another superlative performance from senior captain Leilani King, the reigning PSAC Athlete of the Week. King totaled four goals, an assist, eight draw controls, eight groundballs and three caused turnovers. Erin Rotondo added four goals for the visitors. The Golden Knights also received a staunch performance from goalkeeper Erin Renwick, who made 15 saves (10 in the first half).
 
Shippensburg returns to action at 4 p.m. Tuesday when it travels to Bloomsburg for a conference matchup with the Huskies.