LAKEWOOD, NJ (Feb. 25, 2024) - Georgian Court Women's Lacrosse start the season 2-0 following an exciting 13-11 win over Gannon. Three was the largest lead for either team in what was a close game throughout. GCU gave up an early lead, but stormed back in the fourth to preserve the win in their home opener.

How it Happened
• Georgian Court scored 13 goals on 30 shots. They outshot the Golden Knights by nine as Gannon scored 11 goals on 21 shots.
• Both teams were excellent on clearance efforts with Gannon going 17-17 and GCU 19-20.
• Turnovers were a bug-a-boo for both teams though. The Golden Knights lost the ball 18 times and Georgian Court 15.
• Numbers on the draw were fairly even with Gannon holding a slight edge, 15-13.
• Free-position shots were not helpful for the Lions who were just 2-5 while Gannons converted 5-6.
• There were 18 total cards in the game, 10 green and eight yellow. The Lions scored four woman-up goals and one shorthanded. Gannon converted on two power-play opportunities.
First Quarter
• The first half was tame compared to the wild second. Gannon started the scoring with a goal nearly three minutes in.
• GCU answered with two straight. Caitlin Petrellese tied and Riley O'Connor put the Lions ahead with a woman-up goal.
Second Quarter
• Gannon needed just 38 seconds into the second period to tie the game at two.
• The Lions responded two minutes later as Isabel Raimondi found Bryleigh Tejchman putting GCU back on top.
• Raimondi then lit the lamp herself with two consecutive goals in less than a minute as the Lions took their largest lead, 5-2.
• The Golden Knights got one back with less than a minute to play, but GCU still led 5-3 at halftime.
Third Quarter
• Gannon opened the half scoring two goals in quick succession to tie the game at five.
• Still tied at six, GCU scored three straight to finish the frame.
• Riley O'Connor scored four straight goals for the Lions, including one shorthanded as GCU killed off a Gannon power play.
• Two of her three others came with the extra attacker.
Fourth Quarter
• The Lions three-goal lead quickly disappeared.
• Gannon scored four straight themselves and took their first lead since 1-0, 10-9 with just over nine minutes to play in the game.
• Remi Reinhardt had seen enough and took matters into her own hands. She scored twice, once to tie, and once to give the Lions the lead back, just 48 seconds apart.
• Bryleigh Tejchman looked like she gave GCU a little breathing room, but everyone needed to hold their breath while the referees conferred to make sure the shot got off before the shot clock expired. Once the goal was confirmed, the Lions were able to exhale with a two-goal lead.
• That extra goal proved to be a big one. Gannon got back to within one again after Angie George pulled off a beautiful move to beat the GCU defense and goalkeeper with 2:57 left.
• Shortly off the draw, the Lions took two green card penalties just seconds apart putting them down two for more than 50 seconds.
• The Lions defense held strong then Gianna Nardini finished off the Golden Knights with a goal as the clock ticked below 60 seconds in regulation. Georgian Court won the draw control and played keep-away to preserve the 13-11 win.

Lion Stat Leaders
• Isabel Raimondi finished with a game-high six points scoring twice while assisting on four others.
• Riley O'Connor scored five times on eight shots.
• Bryleigh Tejchman and Remi Reinhardt each scored twice. Reinhardt also won seven draw controls and grabbed eight ground balls.
• Madison Battle caused three turnovers.
• Natalie Moradian got the win in goal making three saves. 

For the Golden Knights
• Haleigh Manning kept Gannon in the game making 10 saves.
• Caroline Stevens scored three goals and won six draws.
• Madyson Schwartz scored twice with five draw controls. 
• Charlie Hunter finished with two goals and a team-best four ground balls and three caused turnovers.

News and Notes
• Riley O'Connor scored her 150th career goal and entered the GCU all-time top-10 for points.
• Isabel Raimondi reached 75 career assists and moved to sixth all-time at GCU.
• This is the first time since 2021 that Georgian Court has started a season 2-0. They've started 2-0 four times in their history and 3-0 just twice in 2007 and 2010.
• Both of Georgian Court's win this season have been by two goals.
• Cadence Gentile saw her first action in goal for the Lions playing 21 minutes in the second half and making three saves.

Up Next
• Georgian Court has a busy week ahead all on the road. They start the first of three games in five days Tuesday, Feb. 27 at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Game time is set for 3 p.m.