John Carroll JCU 5-3, 1-0

Ohio Northern ONU 5-4, 0-1

John Carroll JCU

5-3, 1-0

Final

Mar. 23, 2024

Ohio Northern ONU

5-4, 0-1

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	4	F
John Carroll JCU	4	2	4	3	13
Ohio Northern ONU	3	3	2	4	12

Summary
Box Score

Peter Wangechi

Jill McDonnell (pictured here vs. Kenyon) finished with 7 caused turnovers, second-most in a game in program history.

Game Recap: Women's Lacrosse | 3/23/2024 3:43:00 PM | Joe Ginley '16, SID

Women's Lacrosse Holds Off Polar Bears in OAC Road Opener

ADA – John Carroll and Ohio Northern have been familiar foes in the Ohio Athletic Conference for some time, with Saturday's showdown marking the 10th meeting between the schools in women's lacrosse.

The Blue Streaks have held historical dominance in the sport over the Polar Bears, winning all nine previous meetings. While today's contest in Ada ultimately resulted in a victory for the Blue & Gold, it was not an easy win.

In the OAC opener, Kelsey Shewbridge's squad held on for a 13-12 conquest, the closest in series history and second straight decided by less than double digits.

A significant difference in the game proved to be free-position attempts. The Blue Streaks took advantage of their chances, finishing 6-for-10 on the free-position, while the Polar Bears converted on 3-of-6 opportunities. JCU's defense also thwarted a high percentage Ohio Northern clears.

The Polar Bears managed to find the net in the early goings, taking a narrow 3-2 lead despite tallies by Vivian Rung and Kathleen Cagney. The visitors managed a 3-goal run starting late in the first and extending into the second quarter, with Kendall Gessner, Cagney, and Vanessa Stevens all providing scores. Cagney's goal was aided by Olivia Hanulak, occurring on the woman-up.

The Polar Bears knotted up the contest at five with a minute to play before the teams traded tallies, with Knapp doing the honors for JCU, so the score stood at 6-6 at the half.

Coming out of the break, the Blue Streaks found momentum. Cagney got the party started off a Hanulak helper before the Gibsonia, PA native did the job herself. Knapp completed a 3-goal run by batting it in nicely.

From this point, just every time the Polar Bears scored, the visitors provided an answer. Just 23 seconds after ONU's first goal of the third quarter, Gessner slotted a shot low left for JCU's 10th goal of the contest. Gessner again authored a response to an ONU goal, pushing JCU's advantage to 11-8 early in the fourth.

A low Cagney shot pushed the margin back to three at the midway mark of the fourth. And with 6:26 left, Gessner crashed the net quickly after a caused turnover and a groundball for the eventual game-winner.

The Polar Bears made it very interesting in the later stages of the game. The hosts found twine at the 4:25 mark, slimming the deficit to two and leading to a JCU timeout. Olivia Hanulak appeared to score a pretty goal for insurance, but the officials waved it off. And so with 14 seconds left, ONU scored a free-position goal and got the ball on the following draw for a chance to win it. But on a last second shot off a restart, Olivia Munding stood tall in cage to preserve the victory.

Kendall Gessner guided the offense critically, with 4 goals and 1 assist, marking a fourth straight game with four or more points and her sixth game with three or more goals. Kathleen Cagney's excellence is to be celebrated also, as the sophomore netted a career-high 4 goals. Olivia Hanulak also achieved 4 points, with 1 goal and 3 assists, her fifth multi-assist contest this year. Riley Knapp nabbed two goals and a team-best 7 draw controls.

Jill McDonnell's defensive work was admirable, as the freshman finished with a team-high 7 caused turnovers. That stands as the second most in a game in program history, behind only Brooke McQuinn's 8 CT vs. Adrian on February 25, 2017.

Meghan Weiner's work is also to be admired, as the junior registered a career-best 5 groundballs and matched a career high with 4 caused turnovers. Thanks in part to the defensive efforts, ONU finished with a season-worst clear percentage of 56% (14-of-25) and with a season-high 27 turnovers.

John Carroll is now 2-0 this year in games decided by a single goal.

The Blue & Gold will be back at home on Friday, hosting Muskingum in a 1 pm game before Easter break.

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Scoring Summary
Scoring Play	Home Team Score
1st Period		JCU	ONU
12:56	ONU - Rylie Kocik Assisted by Keaghan Burden	0	1
11:35	JCU - Vivian Rung Assisted by Anna Spitzer	1	1
08:55	JCU - Kathleen Cagney Assisted by Olivia Hanulak	2	1
03:59	ONU - Emma Hoersten	2	2
02:51	ONU - Elena Martin	2	3
02:24	JCU - Kendall Gessner	3	3
01:47	JCU - Kathleen Cagney Assisted by Olivia Hanulak	4	3
2nd Period		JCU	ONU
07:03	JCU - Vanessa Stevens	5	3
05:13	ONU - Elizabeth Graham Assisted by Emma Hoersten	5	4
01:08	ONU - Elizabeth Graham Assisted by Rylie Kocik	5	5
00:37	JCU - Riley Knapp	6	5
00:15	ONU - Keaghan Burden	6	6
3rd Period		JCU	ONU
14:25	JCU - Kathleen Cagney Assisted by Olivia Hanulak	7	6
11:52	JCU - Olivia Hanulak	8	6
06:41	JCU - Riley Knapp Assisted by Kendall Gessner	9	6
04:32	ONU - Rylie Kocik Assisted by Keaghan Burden	9	7
04:09	JCU - Kendall Gessner	10	7
03:22	ONU - Keaghan Burden Assisted by Rylie Kocik	10	8
4th Period		JCU	ONU
14:17	JCU - Kendall Gessner	11	8
11:08	ONU - Emma Hoersten	11	9
08:25	JCU - Kathleen Cagney	12	9
07:20	ONU - Lydia Lehman	12	10
06:26	JCU - Kendall Gessner	13	10
04:25	ONU - Elizabeth Graham Assisted by Keaghan Burden	13	11
00:14	ONU - Lydia Lehman	13	12