SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University lacrosse team could not overcome a slow start on Saturday against No. 23 NYIT, dropping an 18-6 decision to the Bears on a bitterly cold and windy day at Robb Sports Complex.
 
Shippensburg (2-2) was within a 5-2 margin of NYIT (2-0) midway through the first half, but the Bears closed the opening frame on a 5-0 run to take a 10-2 lead into the intermission. The Raiders finished with a 17-9 edge in draw controls, but could not overcome 13 first-half turnovers and were out-shot by 11.
 
Junior Alana Cardaci scored twice, while junior Jena MacDonald, sophomore Sydney Costanza, sophomore Hannah Seifried and sophomore Gabby Savarino also found the back of the net.
 
Seifried finished with eight draw controls, one less than NYIT had as a team. Savarino and freshman Kayla Jones each had three draw controls.
 
Senior Morgan Schantz had two caused turnovers and two groundballs among the defenders. DeMarte and sophomore Hannah Raines each picked up multiple groundballs.
 
Freshman Ally Weneta made seven saves for the Raiders in 43 minutes of action, while redshirt-sophomore KiKi Brasher made two saves in relief.
 
NYIT got seven goals from Shannon Donovan and a three-goal, four-assist effort from Jaclyn Grzelaczyk. Goalkeeper Ashley Perinni made 11 saves.
 
Shippensburg is back in action at 4 p.m. Friday at Lock Haven.