Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
JCU vs. Mount
Jahmil Taylor
19
Winner John Carroll JCU 5-0, 5-0
13
Mount Union MTU 4-1, 4-1
Winner
John Carroll JCU
5-0, 5-0
19
Final
13
Mount Union MTU
4-1, 4-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
John Carroll JCU 11 8 19
Mount Union MTU 6 7 13

Game Recap: Women's Lacrosse | | Luke Potosky, Staff Writer

In a Battle of Unbeatens, Women's Lacrosse Defeats Mount Union

ALLIANCE, Ohio -- On Wednesday evening, John Carroll University Women's Lacrosse made the 75-minute trip southeast to Mount Union. The Purple Raiders, ranked No. 19 by US Lacrosse Magazine, hosted the clash of 4-0 unbeatens. Considering the teams' combined 8-0 record and genuine rivalry, one would expect a game with plenty of fireworks.

And fireworks there were, as the two teams scored a combined 32 combined goals throughout the night. When it was all said and done, the Blue Streaks defeated the Purple Raiders, 19-13, on March 10 at Mount Union Stadium. With the victorious effort, the Blue and Gold rose to a 5-0 mark on the season.

Out of the gates, it was the Blue Streaks who started out fast and furious. They opened up with goals from Jenna Ginsberg (assisted by Olivia Gerlach), Colleen Grombala (free-position goal), and Ginsberg again (assisted by Carly Ross) to open up an early 3-0 JCU lead. 

Mount Union bounced back with two goals of their own, but a 5-0 run by JCU sparked by two goals apiece from Ginsberg and Grombala as well as a goal from Emma Workman put the Blue Streaks up 8-2.

Mount Union once again bounced back with three goals of their own to cut the deficit heading into halftime. But an Emma Workman free-position goal stopped the Purple Raider rally, making the score 9-5.

Mount Union scored another one near the end of the half, but JCU followed up with two last-minute strikes by Alex Heishman and Carly Ross to secure a 11-6 halftime lead.

Coming out of halftime, it was the Purple Raiders scoring the first two goals to trim their deficit. Head Coach Rachel Dell took a timeout to calm the tides, and JCU's fortunes turned. 

"The message when I took the second time out was to keep their heads up and keep talking through defensive breakdowns," said Dell. "That was our lowest energy point of the game and not surprising that was when they surged back at us." 

After the timeout, five straight John Carroll goals by Claire Mezzoprete (assisted by Alex Heishman), Lainey Donalson (assisted by Kendall Gessner), Gessner, Mezzoprete once more, and Grombala gave JCU a convincing 16-8 lead.

Mount Union stopped the rally with a goal, but Grombala responded with her fifth goal of the night to make it 17-9.

A Mount Union goal to make it 17-10 marked the first time this season the JCU defense allowed double-digit goals. Then again, this was also the first time the Blue and Gold faced a ranked foe.

Nevertheless, a sixth goal on the night from Grombala and a second goal from Kendall Gessner gave the Blue and Gold a nine-score lead.

Three late Mount Union goals made the defeat more reasonable, but it was John Carroll who ruled the night by defeating their rival 19-13, improving to 5-0. The Blue Streaks had only defeated Mount Union once before, in a 14-11 win on April 5, 2017. 

The energy of JCU fans traveling to the game certainly helped.

"Having fans always make games more fun. We were happy to finally have our families in the stands cheering us on," said Dell. 

JCU had a great night in the stat books as well, finishing with 36 out of 47 shots on goal, 28 ground balls, and 12 caused turnovers to name a few notable figures.

Colleen Grombala (six goals), Jenna Ginsberg (four goals), and Kendall Gessner (two goals, one assist) all had stellar nights on the offensive end. Three caused turnovers by Molly Carroll and nine saves from goalie Kaleigh Kotula stood out defensively for JCU. 

"The coaching staff was very happy with the defense, especially Molly Carroll and Maddy Veto. In the midfield, Mary Doherty was invaluable on draws and ground balls," said Dell. "Jenna Ginsberg did a great job picking up when Colleen was faceguarded. She led the attack when Mount was attempting to completely shut down Colleen. 

"Colleen had a great game and faced the toughest pressure she has yet. We're always happy with how hard she works. She never stops. Even though this was he most amount of goals Kaleigh gave up, she was huge for us on loose balls coming up with four GBs."

Overall, nine different Blue Streaks finished with points.

"The team has been pumped for this game all week," said Dell. "This is the first game we weren't in running time, so it's good prep for Capital on Saturday, because they always challenge us and are another very fast, athletic team."

John Carroll will come back home on Saturday, March 13 where they will host a formidable 5-0 Capital team in what will be another battle of unbeatens at Don Shula Stadium at 1 p.m.
Print Friendly Version

Sponsors