BUFFALO, NY – The Buffalo State women's lacrosse team fell to the Grove City College Wolverines, 9-7, in their latest non-conference matchup of the season.

GAME BASICS

FINAL SCORE: Grove City College - 9, Buffalo State - 7
LOCATION: Coyer Field – Buffalo, NY
RECORDS: Buffalo State: 3-2 (0-0 SUNYAC), Grove City College: 4-3 (0-0 PAC)

INSIDE THE BENGAL BOX SCORE

• Kira Grzechowiak (West Seneca, NY/West Seneca West) led the Bengals with a hat-trick, while Kaylee Cadez (Temecula, CA/Temecula Valley) also finished with three points, netting two goals and adding an assist.
• Vanessa Willick (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville East) led the Bengals with eight draw controls, six groundballs, and two caused turnovers.
• In net, Brielle Lum (Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara-Wheatfield) saved eight shots for the Bengals in full-time action.
• The Bengals outshot the Wolverines, 21-20, while winning the draw control battle at 11-6.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After picking up a needed win over the Hilbert College Hawks in their last outing, the Bengals returned to Coyer Field as they hosted the Grove City College Wolverines.
• Opening the quarter, the Bengals would find the back of the net first, netting a goal within the first two minutes of play. The Wolverines, however, would respond with back-to-back goals, taking the lead over the Bengals midway through play. A stretch of strong offensive play would give the Bengals a lead, following two goals in a three-minute span, but the Wolverines would respond with a goal of their own, as these two sides would enter the second quarter tied.
• In the second quarter, the Wolverines would swing the momentum in their favor, rattling off four unanswered goals to take command in this bout. The Bengals looked to stay afloat, but the Wolverines kept their offense at bay. However, a goal in the final seconds of play by the Bengals would give them some momentum, as the Wolverines led by three goals at halftime.
• Exiting halftime, intensity picked up as the Bengals pressured the Wolverines into mistakes, trying to get back into the game. Following a long stretch of defensive success from both sides, the Bengals found the back of the net in the final three minutes. The Wolverines responded with a goal on the next possession, but the Bengals rattled home back-to-back goals in the closing minutes, trimming their deficit to just one.
• In the final quarter, the Bengals sought a tying goal against the Wolverines. The Bengals struggled to control the ball as the Wolverines dominated midfield. Despite creating chances at the net, strong goaltending kept the Bengals scoreless, and the Wolverines scored in the final two minutes to seal the win in this non-conference matchup.

FOR THE FOES

• Jess Robinette led the Wolverines with six points, scoring four goals and adding two assists.
• Mia Gallagher earned the win in net, making eight saves.

UP NEXT
The Bengals will close out their non-conference home schedule by hosting the Allegheny College Gators on Wednesday, March 18th, at 4:30 PM.