The Shippensburg University lacrosse team qualified for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament for the first time in 19 years on Wednesday.
The Raiders posted a 17-5 victory over Shepherd in an Eastern Division match held at Robb Sports Complex.
Shippensburg and Shepherd (2-12, 1-9) were tied 3-3 with 4:52 left in the first quarter, then the Raiders proceeded to unleash a 10-0 run over the next 31 minutes of play to take control. The hosts outscored the Rams 7-0 in the second quarter en route to a 12-3 halftime lead.
Ten Raiders had at least one point Wednesday, while nine scored a goal and six had at least one assist. Five Raiders finished with five or more points.
Senior Shannon Wood, who had not recorded a hat trick in her first three seasons, produced her team-leading sixth hat trick of the year in Wednesday’s victory. Wood had three goals, two assists, a groundball and a draw control.
Junior Olivia Glinski matched her career high with four assists while scoring a goal and picking up a pair of groundballs. It is Glinski’s seventh game this season with multiple assists and the fifth time this season she tallied three or more assists in a game.
Senior Ali Pioli delivered her first hat trick of the season to match a single-game career best in goals. Pioli was once again integral in the circle by matching the team high with five draw controls while collecting two groundballs. She also added an assist and a caused turnover.
On Saturday, Shippensburg dropped a 17-9 decision at No. 11 West Chester in the afternoon as the team wrapped up its regular season with a PSAC clash at Vonnie Gros Field.
Shippensburg (7-10, 4-8 PSAC East) hung with West Chester (14-3, 10-2) for the opening nine minutes, as the score was 2-1 in favor of the hosts. WCU closed the first quarter on a 4-0 run and had a 9-4 halftime lead.
Despite trailing at the break, it was a competitive first half for the Raiders, who out-paced the Golden Rams in shots on goal by a 14-to-10 margin and committed five fewer turnovers (six by SU, 11 by WCU).
Pioli delivered her second straight hat trick, finishing with three goals and an assist. This was Pioli’s fifth hat trick of her career.
Senior Grace DeMarzio became the third player in school history to reach 100 career caused turnovers late into the first quarter.
Shippensburg has now achieved back-to-back seasons of seven or more victories for the first time since 2017-18 under Nicole Meehan. The Raiders improved to 6-1 this season when leading at the half and 7-3 this season in games that they won the turnover margin.
The Raiders, under the direction of reigning PSAC East Coach of the Year Brooke DellaValle, will be competing next week in the PSAC Tournament for the first time since 2007, when a Naomi Radio-led squad traveled to West Chester for a quarterfinal.
Next Tuesday at 4 p.m., the Raiders will travel to face No. 7 Slippery Rock in a PSAC Quarterfinal at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
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