University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
Ohio State
Panthers Earn Fifth Straight Season-Opening Win, Top Ohio State 13-10
2/7/2026 3:18:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
COLUMBUS, OH – Pitt Lacrosse secured its fifth-straight season-opening victory, taking down Ohio State 13-10 on Saturday afternoon thanks to a strong second half performance.
Two Panthers secured hat tricks in the opener, led by Paige Telatovich with four goals and Avery Moon with three. The hat tricks were Telatovich's third and Moon's fourth, respectively.
Emily Clemens made her Panther debut with a pair of goals in the second period. Riley Ebersole and Addison Murdoch netted their first career goals, while Maureen McNierney made her return to the field with a tally. Kaitlyn Giandonato rounded out the scoring for Pitt with one goal while adding two assists in the contest.
In goal, Molly Cain made eight saves across 60 minutes to earn the win. Pitt controlled the draw throughout the contest, finishing with a 17-8 advantage, led by Aidan Carr's nine draw controls. The nine draw controls are tied for fourth in Pitt single-game history.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a scoreless first quarter, both teams found their rhythm in the second in a 10-goal frame. Telatovich opened the scoring, netting the first goal of the game off a feed from Giandonato. Ohio State responded with a brief run to build a 5-3 lead, but Pitt closed the half with a pair of unanswered goals from Clemens to tie the game at five heading into the break.
The back-and-forth battle continued in the third as the teams traded goals throughout the period. Moon and Ebersole helped spark the Panthers during the stretch, while McNierney's late goal gave Pitt a 10-9 edge entering the final quarter of play.
Pitt took control in the fourth behind Telatovich, who scored twice in the opening minutes, and Moon, who added another free-position tally, to extend the lead to four. The Panthers held off a late Buckeye push to secure the 13-10 victory and kick off the 2026 campaign 1-0.
GAME NOTES
- Cain secured her 200th career save.
- The Panther attack created 11 caused turnovers by the Buckeyes.
- Moon led the assist count for the Panthers with three and is the all-time program leader with ?37.
- Pitt narrowly outshot Ohio State 33-27 on the day.
- Two Panthers notched hat tricks while three more found their first career scores.
UP NEXT
Pitt will return to Highmark Stadium for their home and conference opener on Thursday, Feb. 12 to take on Duke. Action is set for 2 p.m. with admission free for all fans.
For all things Pitt Lacrosse, follow the team on Instagram and X, @Pitt_WLAX.
