Blue Jays Fend Off Eagles

HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata women's lacrosse team lost a tight game against visiting Elizabethtown, 12-9, Wednesday evening at Gibbel Stadium.

Juniata held the lead for a moment, but the Blue Jays used a 5-0 run to reclaim the lead midway through the first half, and the Eagles couldn't quite get back. JC trailed 7-6 at the half, but the Blue Jays scored the first three goals in the second and held Juniata off the rest of the way. 

Talia Bertrando (Lititz, Pa. / Warwick) had three goals, Grace Gibbs (Arnold, Md. / Broadneck HS) tallied two goals and an assist, Arielle Danchenko (Palm City, Fla. / South Fork) netted twice, and Michaela Naccarini (Westminster, Md. / Winters Mill H.S.) found the back of the net twice. Zoe Watson (Felton, Pa. / Redline, Pa.) had 12 saves and scooped up seven ground balls in goal.

The Blue Jays struck first, two-minutes into the game. Bertrando carved through the Etown defense, shooting from the right side and beating the keeper with a bouncing shot into the left side of the net.

Two minutes later, Bertrando took the ball from the Eagle side of the net and took the ball the length of the field before she beat the keeper again with another low shot.

Talia Bertrando scores her second goal of the game to take the 2-1 lead over Elizabethtown! #wingsup #LandmarkWLAX pic.twitter.com/MMkTJf3mKt

— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) March 31, 2021

The Blue Jays responded with a five-goal surge over the next six minutes to go up by four. 

Naccarini, starting from behind the goal on the right side, rounded the back of the goal, broke through a swarm of defenders, and practically rolled the ball past the keeper to bring JC within three.

Juniata cuts the Blue Jays lead with a goal from Michaela Naccarini! #goeagles pic.twitter.com/RmwpDfgRUr

— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) March 31, 2021

Bertrando and Danchenko scored from free position shots to bring Juniata within one. 

Arielle Danchenko with a free position goal! Juniata trails 6-5 with 4:30 left in the first half. #jcwlax #LandmarkWLAX pic.twitter.com/aF1Pa78UwS

— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) March 31, 2021

Etown scored with just under three to go in the half, and Gibbs found the back of the net for the Eagles in the final 20 seconds. She picked up a bouncing ball from 15 yards out of the goal, accelerated past a defender, and tossed the ball past the keeper to send JC into the half down one.

The Blue Jays scored the first three of the second half before a Gibbs free position goal.

Grace Gibbs scores the Eagles 7th goal of the night! Etown leads, 10-7. #wingsup pic.twitter.com/D7hpSgVVAc

— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) March 31, 2021

Etown scored again, Gibbs found Naccarini for her second goal, and Danchenko scored on a free position to make it 11-9 with a little over 18 minutes to go in the game.

Another free position goal from Arielle Danchenko to make the score, 11-9 Etown! #LandmarkWLAX pic.twitter.com/c5r2PqvYMd

— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) March 31, 2021

The Blue Jays tried to run the clock whenever they had the ball and managed one more goal to complete the scoring.

Juniata will travel to Drew Saturday, and the game starts at 3:00.