ROCK HILL, SC – The Winthrop lacrosse team battled hard against 12th-ranked Ohio State but couldn't slow down the Buckeye offense, falling 20-12 in the team's home opener Friday evening.
The Eagles (1-1) went back and forth with the Buckeyes for the first six goals of the game. Winthrop got goals from Jenna Kasmarik, Logan McCarthy and Abigail Blevins and was tied 3-3 with 22:18 left in the first half. Ohio State (3-0) then rattled off six-straight goals to go up 9-3 with 8:11 on the clock.
Winthrop closed the half on a positive note, getting two goals in the final four minutes. Shannon Gallagher netted her first on an assist from Danielle Ellis and Ellis grabbed her first from Katie Clark to end the half at 9-5.
The Eagles hung tough with the Buckeyes early in the second half. Ohio State grabbed the first two goals of the second half before Jenna Kasmarik scored the next three, all on free-position attempts to pull Winthrop within three at 11-8 with 21:04 remaining.
Ohio State responded with three consecutive goals of its own to go back up 14-8. Clark and Gallagher netted back-to-back tallies to pull the Eagles back within 14-10 but Winthrop couldn't sustain the momentum. Kasmarik and Gallagher each netted another goal in the final minutes to reach the final score.
Kasmarik finished with five goals on five shots and went 3-for-7 on free-position attempts. Gallagher added three goals and one assist. Freshman goalie Alaina Girani finished with 11 saves and picked up six ground balls.
Winthrop will return to action at Eagle Field next Friday, February 20 at 6 p.m. against George Mason.
