MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny women's lacrosse team advanced to the finals of the 2023 Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Championship with a 12-6 win against Franciscan at home in the semifinals Thursday (May 4).
 
The Gators will travel to Washington & Jefferson for the championship game on Saturday (May 6) at 1 pm.
 
In a defensive oriented first quarter, the Barons grabbed a 3-1 lead. Emily Herrold (Hampstead, Md./Manchester Valley) scored the first goal of the frame just forty seconds in off a pass from Grace Baginski (Lakeville, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy). However, Franciscan would score the next three goals, including one with under thirty seconds to go, as they led after the first quarter.
 
Lauren Petrarca (Simi Valley, Calif./Royal) scored on a free-position attempt early in the second quarter, but the Barons matched the goal two minutes later. Allegheny would then score two straight goals to tie the game and bring about a Franciscan timeout midway through. Liz Dolan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Hampton) scored the first goal unassisted before Ema Caragein (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton La Salle) found Petrarca for her second goal of the frame. Franciscan regained the lead after the timeout, but Gators struck three times late to take a 7-5 lead into halftime. Petrarca scored the bookend goals while Kennedy Kyle (Seven Fields, Pa./Seneca Valley) scored the inbetween goal. Senna Perelman (Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland Heights) registered assists on the first two goals of the sequence.
 
Dolan scored the first goal of the third quarter before Perelman set-up Herrold for the second. After a Baron goal, Perelman assisted Kyle and Baginski scored unassisted as the Gator lead grew to 11-6 heading into the final quarter.
 
Baginski scored early in the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 12-6. That goal proved to be the final one of the contest as the Gators sealed the win to advance to the championship game.
 
Inside the Box

• Petrarca led the team with four goals and four caused turnovers while also collecting three groundballs.
• Perelman had four assists while causing a turnover.
• Baginski finished with two goals and an assist.
• Herrold had two goals to go alongside six groundballs.
• Kyle had a pair of goals and a pair of caused turnovers.
• Dolan also struck twice while causing a turnover.
• Caragein added an assist.
• Amelia Henderson (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) had five groundballs and three caused turnovers.
• Sybi Gerhart (Denver, Pa./Cocalico) had three groundballs and two caused turnovers.
• Sarah Thorman (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) picked up the win in net, making eight saves. 

News and Notes

• The Gators overall record improved to 14-4 on the year.
• Allegheny advances to the PAC Championship Game in their first year in the conference.
• With the win, the Gators are now 3-0 all-time against the Barons.

Up Next
The Gators will face top-seed Washington & Jefferson in the PAC Championship game on the road Saturday (May 6) at 1 pm.