MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny women's lacrosse team started their 2026 campaign at home against Muskingum Saturday (Feb. 21), falling to the Muskies in a back-and-forth overtime battle, 11-10.
 
The Gators struck first as Brooklyn Harrison (Harrison City, Pa./Penn-Trafford) found Erin Lowthert (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg Area) in front of the net for the first goal of the season. Minutes later, Caroline Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo./Liberty) converted a free position attempt to make it 2-0. The Muskies answered with the final goal of the frame as Allegheny led 2-1 after 15 minutes.
 
Kendall Cox (Silver Spring, Md./Albert Einstein) opened the second quarter with a goal off a feed by Olivia Savage (Meadville, Pa./Meadville Area). However, the Muskies scored the next two to tie the game at three. Late in the half, Lowthert scored her second goal to put the Gators back in front, but Muskingum struck last to tie it at four heading into the locker room.
 
Smith started the second half with her second goal of the game, unassisted, to put the Gators back in front. After the Muskies tied it once again, Lowthert netted her third tally, this time on a free position, as the Gators led 6-5 after three quarters.
 
Cox extended the lead to 7-5 to begin the fourth. However, the Muskies went on a four goal run to take a two goal lead. Lowthert scored her fourth on a free position goal, halting the Muskingum run. Two minutes later, Smith tied it up on an unassisted goal, completing her hat trick. Lowthert then netted her fifth goal of the contest to give Allegheny a 10-9 lead, but once again, the Muskies answered with their own goal to tie it back up. The Gators had some chances late, but the game went into overtime.
 
Muskingum won the draw to start overtime. Less than a minute later they were able to find the back of the net for the golden goal as Allegheny dropped their season opener 11-10.
 
Inside the Box

• Lowthert led the team with five goals. She also caused four turnovers with three groundballs.
• Smith had a hat trick while collecting five groundballs and four draw controls.
• Cox netted two goals to go alongside an assist.
• Harrison and Savage both had an assist.
• Amelia Henderson (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) had a team-high seven groundballs while sharing the lead with four caused turnovers.
• Duchess Jackson (Washington, D.C/National Cathedral School) had three groundballs and caused two turnovers.
• Ella Ashton (Landisville, Pa./Hempfield) and Emma Foley (Ashburn, Va./Stone Bridge) split time in goal. Ashton made seven saves while Foley made four. 

News and Notes

• Today marked the first contest between the programs.
• Harrison, Savage, Foley, Jackson, Maddie Krieger (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East), Desiree Morin (Meadville, Pa./Meadville Area) and Nadya Shenk (Orbisonia, Pa./Southern Huntingdon County) made their Allegheny lacrosse debuts. 

Up Next
The Gators are back at home Wednesday (Feb. 25) against Fredonia.