KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- Emily Smith (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Hubert Catholic) scored a hat trick to become the 12th player in Kutztown University women's lacrosse history to reach 100 career points and was one of five players recognized on Senior Day as the Golden Bears fell to 23rd-ranked Mercyhurst, 21-10, in a PSAC game at Andre Reed Stadium on Saturday.
Lacey Netti had seven points on three goals and four assists, Brenna Fosco supplied a goal and five helpers and Emma Hubert scored four times for the visiting Lakers, who never trailed.
Kutztown, which won seven games this season to equal the most since the program's reinstatement prior to 2008, showed resolve by scoring six times during an 11-minute, 11-second span that covered parts of both halves to cut Mercyhurst's (9-3 PSAC, 12-5) 10-goal lead to six, 15-9, with 20:27 to go.
Smith fired a shot past Lakers' goalie Raelyn Tiberio a little less than six minutes later for her third of the day to reach the century mark in points. The Philadelphian registered career-highs of 26 goals, 12 assists and 38 points this season and ended her career with 66 goals and 34 assists. Smith also holds the school record for draw controls in a game (11), season (61) and career (199), and posted 167 career ground balls.
Fellow seniors
Makayla Bowman (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) and
Lauren Schmidt (Hanover, Pa./South Western) each had a goal for the Maroon and Gold (5-7, 7-9).
Erin Vaughan Ware (Seaford, N.Y./MacArthur) totaled three points on a goal and two assists,
Cyla Cafferata (Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Sachem North) added a goal and an assist, and
Devon Fitzpatrick (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) provided two goals and a team-high seven draws.
Mercyhurst swarmed the KU cage, peppering junior defender-turned-goalie
Megan Vaughan (Prince Frederick, Md./Southern) with 40 shots. Vaughan responded with her second straight double-digit save performance, tying a career-high with 12 stops.
Fourteen different players picked up a ground ball for the Lakers, who held a 20-9 advantage over the Golden Bears. The guests also won the draw control battle, 17-15.
Senior
Amanda Lehman (York, Pa./West York Area) caused a game-high three turnovers and junior
Destanee Watkins (Emmaus, Pa./Emmaus) contributed a goal, two caused turnovers and four draws for KU.
Lehman concluded her career with 133 ground balls and 58 caused turnovers to rank seventh and eighth all-time in those categories at the University. Watkins moved into a tie for fourth on the Golden Bears' career caused turnovers list with 77.
Bowman ended her four-year run with the team having exceeded 150 career points and 100 career goals. Her 151 points rank fourth in program history and her 117 goals fifth.
Schmidt generated 125 points, 123 draw controls and 103 ground balls. She currently sits eighth among KU's career scorers, third in draw controls, tied for seventh in assists (32) and eighth in goals (93).
Jordan Klebe (Bishopville, Md./Stephen Decatur) recorded a shot and a free-position attempt in her final game as a Golden Bear. The senior from Bishopville, Maryland collected 15 points (eight goals, seven assists) in 37 games and won the 2019 Golden Bear Courage Award at the KU All-Sports Celebration.
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