Kent State University
2-8
Youngstown State
5-3
Flashes Lose Heartbreaker to YSU
3/17/2022 10:56:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
KENT, Ohio - On Thursday night, the Kent State lacrosse team hosted Youngstown State in a Mid-American Conference matchup. The game was incredibly offensively oriented, with 41 total goals being scored in the game. But in the end, it would be the Penguins who came out on top of this one, winning 21-20 on a game-winning goal with one second left in regulation by Lauren Ottensmeyer.
Kent State started off the game with seven goals in the first quarter, their most in the opening period since switching to the four-quarter format this season. Their 20 goals scored overall are also their most in 2022. Sophomore Jackie Wolford was tied for the most goals for the Flashes in this one with four, the fourth of which putting her in sole possession of first place on the team in goals with 21. She passed junior Kenzie Sklar, who also netted four goals of her own in a tremendous performance off the bench. Junior Morgan Kubicki played very well as well for Kent State, scoring three goals and adding in three assists for six total points.
But Youngstown State showed up in a big way offensively too, with Natalie Calandra-Ryan scoring seven goals for the Penguins and Erin Clark scoring six more. Factoring in assists, those two contributed 22 points for YSU. That's how the Penguins were able to mount a comeback late in the game, after trailing by as many as four on multiple occasions throughout the game and losing by three with 8:26 to go in the fourth quarter. That's when Youngstown State would go on a 5-0 run, four of which being scored by Calandra-Ryan. With three minutes to play, Kent State trailed by two.
Senior Megan Kozar would put a stop to YSU's run, scoring an unassisted goal with 1:39 to go. Then the Flashes would knot things up at 20 with less than a minute left, when Wolford would score her fourth and most clutch goal of the game.
But just when it seemed that overtime was imminent, Ottensmeyer scored her walk-off goal to send the Penguins home with the win. In the best offensive performance by the Golden Flashes all season, they were unable to match that effort defensively, and they came up with the tough-luck loss on St. Patrick's Day.
Next up on the Flashes' schedule is a trip to Saint Francis on Saturday at 1 p.m.
