ADA, Ohio – On Wednesday night, the Trine University women's lacrosse team traveled to Ohio Northern University to square off with the Polar Bears. The Thunder came up short in the matchup by a tally of 17-8. It is the first time in the 2023 season that Trine has been defeated at 2-1 overall. Ohio Northern remains unbeaten early in the year at 2-0.
The Polar Bears took an early lead at 3-0, but late in the first quarter the Thunder were able to crawl back into the game. Brooke Hoag converted a free position attempt for the team's first goal with 6:10 remaining in the period. Up a man, Hoag found Danielle Gargiulo for the second goal of the night. Ohio Northern added an extra goal just before the end of the first to go up 4-2.
Trine outscored their opponents in the second quarter after succeeding on a pair of man up opportunities. After falling behind 5-2, Hoag connected twice within a minute, but the Polar Bears used a lopsided opportunity of their own to make it 6-4. Gargiulo scored on a free position attempt while up a man with 2:50 to play in the half to go into halftime down just one.
Coming out of the locker room, the Polar Bears scored six of the next seven goals to create a gap between the two at 12-6. Gargiulo would net the only goal in that span with 6:25 left in the third. Nikki Hibler distributed the ball Alyssa Keptner before the horn sounded in the third quarter to make it 12-7 going into the final 15 minutes of action.
Five straight goals by the home team helped them to pull away from Trine in the game and force a running clock at 17-7. Calista Richmond scored with 27 seconds remaining in the game to get to the final score of 17-8.
The Polar Bears held a slight advantage in shots at 28-22 and ground balls at 26-22, but draw controls (15-14 ONU) and turnovers (24-23 Trine) were fairly even.
Hoag had three goals and one assist to finish the day with four points. Gargiulo had three goals in total and five of her seven shots were on frame. Elizabeth Larson led the team with four ground balls in the game and Hoag brought in a team-high six draw controls. Josie Prince was in a tie with Richmond and Larson with three caused turnovers each. In goal, Maddy Kasten (2-1) made six saves.
It is 10 days off for Trine women's lacrosse and the Thunder will take on the College of Wooster on the road for their next contest on Saturday, March 11.
