EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – The Frostburg State women's lacrosse team ended their season in the NCAA Regional first round against No. 10 West Chester by a 22-13 final.
WCU would show off its high-powered offense early, scoring the first two goals of the game less than two minutes in. Having gone over three minutes without registering a shot, the Bobcats would settle in thanks in part to a caused turnover by sophomore Liz Amos, with senior Neila Haney getting the first FSU effort of the contest to the back of the net. She continued to be the driving force for Frostburg over the next minute, grabbing two draw controls, feeding freshman Maddie Russell for a goal, then adding her second score of the game to get a shock 3-2 lead. The back and forth offense would continue, with Amos making a pair of saves in net before the Golden Rams took advantage of a yellow card with another score. Amos produced two more stops as the frantic action went into the final five minutes, with the sides trading scores up to a 5-4 Bobcat advantage.. FSU would get goals from Russell on an assist from senior Sydney Stone, then freshman Delaney Burrows got a pass from senior Emily Lamoreaux. After Amos blocked another shot, Stone put Frostburg up by two after being found by Russell. The first quarter ended with West Chester netting a free position with just over a minute to go, concluding a high-scoring period at 6-5.
The Golden Rams score two quick goals to start the second quarter, but FSU answered right back with Burrows scoring her second and Haney finding senior Daniella Boss while WCU added one of their own to tie things at 8-8 with just four minutes gone in the frame. Junior Maya Mosslih caused a turnover hoping to get Frostburg the lead back but Haney saw her shot saved, as West Chester caused a turnover that led to them getting the go-ahead goal. Through the next three minutes, the Bobcats struggled to hang onto the ball, as despite Amos making a save, the Golden Rams went up 10-8 with six minutes left in the half. Ramping up the defensive effort, Mosslih and senior Emily Lamoreaux would then each cause a turnover, as freshman Avery O'Hara broke the goal drought off an assist from Stone. Mosslih then took the resulting draw, as after Boss hit a shot off the goalkeeper, Lamoreaux scooped up the loose ball and fired home for a 10-10 draw. Shaking away the FSU momentum, WCU put home a free position with just over a minute to go, then hit a dagger goal with eight seconds on the clock to go up 12-10.
Going into the half the Bobcats had 10 ground balls, 12 draw controls, and Amos had seven saves in net.
Coming out of the halftime break, West Chester turned their game up a notch, scoring just over a minute in, as a pair of Frostburg cards resulted in two more goals and a 15-10 lead. It took six minutes for the Bobcats to register their first effort, as Haney was denied, with WCU taking advantage of another penalty seven minutes in. FSU continued to be whistled for fouls, as two more cards brought a woman-up goal, with Haney still unable to get past the Golden Ram netminder, leading to another score and an 18-10 advantage. With just 60 seconds to go in the period, Haney caused a turnover in West Chester's defensive territory, picking up the ball and passing ahead to Burrows to find the back of the net, ending the quarter with WCU leading 18-11.
The opening pair of minutes to begin the fourth were controlled by the Golden Rams, causing a pair of turnovers while forcing Amos into a save before scoring three times in a two-minute span, taking control at 21-11. Amos stayed resolute in goal, as she made four more saves through the next four minutes to keep WCU at bay. Haney and Lamoreaux both saw their efforts saved, as the latter and Mosslih caused further West Chester turnovers. Entering the final two minutes, Amos stood tall once again, as Burrows led a fast break that resulted in her finding O'Hara on the doorstep. FSU would put another goal home 30 seconds later through Stone, but the Golden Rams would have the final say with a last-second goal making the final 22-13.
Haney would lead the Bobcats with 10 draw controls and six points, while Burrows and Stone each recorded four points. Mosslih led the defense with five caused turnovers, setting a new program single-season record, to go with four groundballs. Amos finished with 14 saves and six groundballs, both tying her career highs.
With the loss, the Bobcats finish the season with a record of 16-4, while West Chester improves to 16-4 and advances to face host East Stroudsburg in the second round.
