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KENNESAW, Ga. – Siena Gore and Izzy Palermo combined for nine goals as the Kennesaw State women's lacrosse team jumped out to an early lead over Marquette before the Golden Eagles exploded for 13 goals in the second half to comeback and down KSU 19-15 Saturday afternoon.
 
How it happened: After Marquette (3-2) opened the day's scoring, Gore answered for the Owls (0-3) a minute later to tie the game. The Golden Eagles netted the next two goals before KSU earned its first lead of the game behind three straight free position goals, two from Gore and one from Palermo.
 
Marquette managed to tie the game once again, 4-4, at the 13:35 mark, but Palermo and Gore responded with back-to-back goals to keep the Owls in front. The Owls scored four of the final five goals in the first half, capped off by a free position goal from Abby Squires, to earn a 10-6 lead at halftime.
 
KSU was 6-of-6 on free position shots in the first half as both Gore and Palermo finished with four goals each in the period.
 
The Golden Eagles came out fired up, netting two goals in under a minute to open the second half and cut KSU's lead to two, 10-8. The Owls bounced back with three straight goals in a two-minute span courtesy of Emily Napierala, Jennifer Buckley and Gore to earn their largest lead of the game 13-8 at the 23:35 mark. 
 
After trading goals, Marquette's Grace Gabriel scored to spark an 8-0 run for the Golden Eagles over the final 10 minutes of the game. KSU had only three shots in the final 10 minutes, two of which rang off the post.
 
Notes: Siena Gore has now scored five goals in back-to-back games, going 4-of-5 on free position shots … Gore's four free position goals ties the KSU single-game record … The Owls finished the game 8-of-10 on free position shots … KSU's eight total free position goals is tied for third on the KSU single-game record list … Izzy Palermo tied her career-high with four goals on five shots … Marquette outscored KSU 13-5 in the second half … Emily Napierala finished with four points, recording two shots and both of KSU's assists in the game … Anna Giulitto recorded a career-high two assists, finishing the game with three points ... Marissa Gore tied her career-high, set in KSU's last game against Vanderbilt, as she, Siena Gore and Abby Squires all finished with five draw controls each … Alex Bunn recorded her third straight game with double-digit saves, logging 10 against the Golden Eagles … Marquette's Grace Gabriel finishd the game leading all scorers with six goals.
 
Quotes: Head Coach Laura Maness
On her thoughts about the game…
"I thought we came out hard. We really focused all week on our possessions offensively, making sure they ended with a quality shot, and that we were taking care of the ball. I really felt that we did that in the beginning of the game it was just difficult to hold on in the end. The last 10 minutes of the second half I think we got a little careless with some of the stuff that we focused on in the scout and I think it was a lot to do with fatigue. Marquette made some good switches with their goalies and things like that, that really challenged us."
 
On the difference between the first and second halves…
"I think they have more depth than we do right now, I think they had a good Plan B, and their second goalie stepped up and made saves. That kept them in the game and shifted momentum. I think that's something we need to focus on is how to control the clock in the second half when we are getting a little bit tired. I think that is something we've talked about and need to do a better job of."
 
On KSU's free-position opportunities…
"We worked a lot this week on shooting and shot placement. We knew that Marquette is an aggressive team and when you play aggressive it opens you up to get a lot of fouls called on you. We really took advantage of that in the first half. We didn't see the same amount of fouls in the second half, unfortunately, I thought they were there and the whistles just didn't blow."
 
Up next: The Owls step back out on the road, travelling to Winthrop to take on the Eagles next Saturday (Mar. 2) at 1 p.m.