Tigers fall to Butler in section battle
by: Bob Orkwis
The Butler Golden Tornado paid a visit to Newman Stadium to face North Allegheny in a Section 3A-2 matchup. In a contest that started furiously, Butler was able to pick up a 13-7 victory on the road.
After winning the opening draw, Taryn Hilovksy scored for the Golden Tornado just 28 seconds in for a quick 1-0 lead.
The Tigers won the ensuing draw, and Reagan Riordan cashed in just ten seconds later to tie the game 1-1.
Izzy Skal found the net at 1:01 of the first quarter to put Butler in front 2-1. That marker sparked a four-goal run for the Golden Tornado who never trailed in the contest.
Hilovsky, a Lenoir-Rhyne recruit, scored her second goal. Then sophomore Sofia Matonak scored back-to-back goals for a 5-1 lead.
North Allegheny pushed back, with two more goals from Riordan, the first on a free position, to pull the Tigers within two, but freshman Reeve Swanson answered for Butler, who led 6-3 after the first quarter.
Addison Pino and Parker Slater scored the only two goals in the second quarter to give the Golden Tornado an 8-3 halftime lead.
Gracie Lynch notched her seventh goal of the year before Matonak completed her hat trick to make the score 9-4 heading into the fourth quarter.
Senior goalie Fiola Ragan was big for North Allegheny in the third with five saves. But her efforts were matched by Butler junior goaltender Campbell Clouse.
The Tigers started the final period strong, with free position goals from Sara Donaldson, and Riordan, to pull North Allegheny within three at 9-6.
But Lily Wagner, Matonak with her fourth, and a goal from freshman Maggie McCurdy put Butler in front 12-6.
Sarah Harlan added her 12th goal of the season before McCurdy scored again to make the final score 13-7.
The loss for North Allegheny (1-5, 0-3) was the fourth straight for the Tigers. Butler is now 2-1 in section play, and 6-2 overall.
With her third four-goal effort in four games, Reagan Riordan was the Wright Automotive Player of the Game. The junior Grove City commit now leads the Tigers with 18 goals on the season.
It’s a quick turnaround for North Allegheny, as the Tigers will host Sewickley Academy tomorrow afternoon in a game that has been moved to a 5:45 PM start time, It is also the final contest for NA before the Easter break and the game will be carried on the North Allegheny Sports Network.
GIRLS LACROSSE SUMMARY VS. BUTLER, 4-1-26
| SCORE BY QUARTERS | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | FINAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butler | 6 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 13 |
| North Allegheny | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
