Star returners can't bring lacrosse win in first three games

The Edinboro women’s lacrosse team traveled to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, over spring break for a pair of games against tough competition, but ultimately returned to campus with an 0-3 overall record.

But before the two games over break, the Fighting Scots opened their season at home against Walsh University. The game against Walsh, which was postponed from Feb. 24 to Feb. 27 for weather reasons, was a close loss, 11-8. 

The Fighting Scots opened the scoring 10 minutes into the game when Desiree Doucette put one in the back of the net. The Scots kept the score close throughout, only going into the half down one.

As the second half progressed, so did the snow and wind. The Scots scored early in the second, then scored again with fewer than three minutes left, but they were outscored by Walsh as the Cavaliers put up five in the second. 

Sidney Dobbins and Anna Leva both scored two goals. Doucette, Mary Uplinger, Kandyce Graham and Sophie DePalma each scored goals. Candace McDole had 16 saves in the loss. 

The opener also marked the first time that Anna Leva, a redshirt freshman, returned to action for the Fighting Scots since she was injured in the fifth game of the season last year. Leva may have only played in five games, but she finished second on the team in scoring with 20 goals. She also had 10 assists in the shorter season. She now has five goals in three games so far. 

“I thought the girls played hard, we just didn’t come out on top. We’ve got to get our offense working,” Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach LeighAnn Stauffer said after the game. On the postponement, she added: “It gave us more time to prepare, for sure, which is why I would have hoped to come out on top because we did have more time. It’s just unfortunate, but as far as the girls go, their energy was there.”

Stauffer added that most of Edinboro’s players are from around Edinboro, so she did not believe the weather affected their play.

The team played Saint Leo in the first spring break game, falling 17-6. The Scots scored two in the first and four in the second. 

Leva led the team with two goals, while Dobbins, Graham, DePalma, Kunz and Uplinger all scored. McDole had 10 saves. 

The team also played No. 20 Florida Tech over spring break, who they fell to 19-6. Six different players scored a goal, and McDole had 14 saves. 

McDole, ‘Boro’s sophomore goalkeeper, returned to Edinboro after a record-setting debut season. She broke a record during a loss to Slippery Rock when she made 18 saves, bringing her to 172 total with five games left (the previous record was 170 in a season). She ended the season with 222 saves. McDole has 40 saves in three games this year. 

Edinboro finally visited Roberts Wesleyan Tuesday, falling 13-7 on the road. They begin PSAC play Saturday when they visit Millersville University. The Marauders are 2-2 to begin their season.

Erica Burkholder | voices.spectator@gmail.com

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