BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Freshman Katie Westbrook of the Gardner-Webb (0-7) women's lacrosse team posted her first collegiate hat trick, scoring three goals, but it was not enough as the Runnin' Bulldogs fell to visiting Youngstown State (4-3) 16-8 on Thursday afternoon inside Spangler Stadium.
For the first time on the year, the Runnin' Bulldogs struck first following a free position goal out of the stick of senior Rebecca Ferrina with 9:36 remaining on the first quarter clock. However, Youngstown State came back with a free position goal of its own just two minutes later, knotting the score at 1-1.
Westbrook helped recapture the lead for GWU on the Runnin' Bulldogs next possession as she ripped her third goal of the season following a foul by the Penguins in the 8-meter circle.
Westbrook was at it again with just over a minute to play in the opening period, beating the keeper to the low left for her second score of the game while giving Gardner-Webb a 3-2 advantage heading into period number two.
Youngstown State opened the second quarter with three consecutive goals, taking a 5-3 lead before junior Emma Duchscherer put her name in the scoring column with an unassisted score for the 'Dawgs. The Penguins posted the final score of the half, taking a 6-4 lead into halftime.
Junior Emma Meyer and Westbrook went back-to-back with free position strikes to open the second half, pulling the Runnin' Bulldogs even at 6-all less than three minutes into the third.
However, Youngstown State answered the 'Dawgs mini scoring run with five in a row over the final 11:02 of the third, ballooning its lead to a comfortable margin of 11-6 heading into the final stanza of play.
That scoring run for the Penguins extended to six in a row before sophomore Summer Carpenter fired home her first goal of the season for Gardner-Webb, closing the gap to 13-7 with five minutes to play. YSU notched three of the final four goals on its way to the 16-8 win.
Following a five-game homestand, Gardner-Webb will now hit the road, traveling to Xavier on Thursday, March 13. First draw for that game is set for 12 p.m.
