Bradford, PA – The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford women's lacrosse team hosted Hilbert on Saturday in a game dedicated to the Morgan's Message Foundation. The Panthers were dominant in the matchup, tallying 46 shots in the game, resulting in a 20-7 victory.
Morgan's Message is a non-profit foundation that fights to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health, normalize the conversations about mental health, and to ensure that mental health is treated equally to physical health for all student-athletes. It is named after Duke University Lacrosse player Morgan Rodgers, who was tragically lost to suicide after a career-ending injury. More about the foundation's story and mission can be found at its website, www.morgansmessage.org.
The Panthers spared no time taking the lead as Addison Molampy completed a hat-trick in under seven minutes. She opened the scoring after 48 seconds, spinning into a left-handed shot for the first goal. Seconds later, Samantha Burke flipped Molampy the ball on the right wing, where she was wide open, easily sidestepping the goalie and shooting into an open net to double the lead. After she had a free-position shot saved with just under 9 minutes to go in the quarter, Aryanna Hatch forced a turnover and then found Molampy open in front of the goal. Molampy caught the pass and fired a high shot into the net, completing her hat-trick.
Hilbert responded to the early barrage and scored directly off the draw. The Panthers regained composure, however, and scored three more goals in the period. With 4:25 to go in the first, Molampy added her fourth. The freshman possessed the ball in the defensive half and began a counterattack, out-sprinting the defense. She found Oliva Garcia in front of the goal, but her shot was saved. Molampy picked up the loose ball and deposited another shot into the goal. A minute later, the Panthers took advantage of a Hilbert penalty to score their 5th. Hatch moved the ball behind the goal and slipped a pass to Garcia in front of the crease. Garcia caught the pass and quickly bounced a shot under the goalie to add to the lead. Shortly after the penalty expired, Christina Abel got on the score sheet, beating her defender with pace before placing a shot in the bottom right corner to give the Panthers a 6-1 lead. The Hawks were able to strike back before the end of the period, scoring with 39 seconds remaining.
The Panthers regained momentum at the start of the second, scoring three unanswered goals in just over five minutes. 47 seconds after the restart, Molampy flipped a pass to Molly Wampler, who was able to sneak a shot past the goalie at the near post for her first of the game. The Panthers continued to control possession after the goal, and Abel took advantage, scoring two more before the Hawks could respond. With 11:45 to go in the half, she scanned the defense from the right wing and then found her opportunity. She spun back towards the middle of the field and then flung a left-handed shot back to the near post for her second of the game. Two minutes later, she completed the hat-trick, using her spin move again to get to her left hand before bouncing a shot into the far corner.
Hilbert pulled a goal back after the draw, but Abel and Molampy were not finished yet. Abel added two more while Molampy finished one, each bringing their tally to 5 goals at the half. Abel began by sneaking a free position shot past the goalie at the near post with under 8 minutes to go, before taking advantage of another Hilbert yellow card to score with a player in the box. She caught a flipped pass from Burke at the top of the zone and quickly shot to the left post, scoring on another low shot in the corner. Two minutes later, Molampy added her 5th. She caught a pass from Abel while cutting to the middle from the left wing and then ripped a shot into the top corner to put the Panthers up 12-3 at the break.
The Hawks got off to a strong start in the second half, scoring two goals in the first 5 minutes of the third. Abel got the Panthers back on the front foot, taking advantage of a Hilbert penalty to score her 6th of the game. After Hatch hit the post with a shot, Abel sprinted towards goal from the left wing and used a low shot to beat the goalie, giving the Panthers a 13-7 lead. Hilbert scored again less than a minute after the draw, and then looked to cut further into the lead. They had three shots in quick succession, but Lily Thuman stopped all of them, returning momentum to the Panthes. With 3:34 left in the quarter, Molampy struck again. She caught a pass from Garcia while streaking to the goal and snuck a shot past the goalie from close range. The Panthers would score again before the quarter ended, as Samantha Burke joined the scoresheet. After forcing a turnover behind the net, she restarted play and sprinted past her defender, whipping a shot into the goal from close range.
The Panthers began the final quarter with possession and quickly added to their total. After 24 seconds, Zennette Zigler juked past her defender on the right flank before firing a shot into the goal to put the Panthers up 10. A few minutes later, Garcia doubled her tally. She caught a pass to the right of the goal, ran in front, and slid a backhanded shot into the far post. Hilbert pulled a goal back with 7:38 remaining, but the Panthers finished strong, scoring three unanswered goals in the final minutes. First, Molampy tacked on her 7th, spinning back to the middle of the field from the left flank before bouncing a shot past the goalie. Just over a minute later, Brooke George scored her first career goal, finding the far post after sprinting past a defender from the top of the zone. With 2:36 left, Samantha Burke finished the scoring. She used a pick at the top of the zone to find space before shooting to the far corner for her 2nd goal of the game.
Addison Molampy led the Panthers with 7 goals on 12 shots and 7 groundballs. Christina Abel followed close behind with 6 goals on 11 shots and 4 draw controls. Samantha Burke and Olivia Garcia both scored 2 goals for the Panthers while Burke had 4 assists. Molly Wampler, Brooke George, and Zennette Zigler contributed to the Pitt-Bradford win, each scoring a goal of their own. Lily Thuman guarded the Panther net and was credited with 9 saves and the win.
The victory brings the Panthers' record to 3-0 in the AMCC and 9-5 overall. They have secured a home game in the postseason, and with a win on Tuesday, or a further Alfred State loss, will clinch the #1 seed in the AMCC Tournament. The Panthers will be on the road for the pivotal matchup with the Pioneers on Tuesday, April 14. The opening draw is scheduled for 6:00 PM.
