A four goal burst to start the second half proved to be not enough for Eastern University Women's Lacrosse as they dropped an important MAC contest. The Eagles used the run to gain a 7-5 edge, but the visiting Lycoming Warriors scored six times in the final fifteen minutes to earn an 11-8 win.

Grace Griffith led the Eastern attack with four goals and an assist, but the high-scoring junior finished the contest on the sidelines after picking up a second yellow card midway through the second half. Lycoming scored four times when the Eagles were down a player or two.

Griffith opened the afternoon's scoring with a powerful finish of an Allie Fultz pass just 51 seconds into the contest. Griffith scored her second of the day three and a half minutes later on a pretty feed from Krystal Cairns.

Lycoming answered with a Kelli McIntyre goal against the run of play.  Shortly after, the Eastern offense stalled as Griffith picked up her first yellow card. McIntyre scored twice more to put the guests up 3-2 with 13 minutes to play before Griffith buried her third of the afternoon on a nice turnaround shot from Jess Field.

The visitors scored the last two goals of the first half to take a 5-3 lead, and a late chance following a Lindsey Moosey check and steal went wide. Eastern had a 14-8 edge in first half shots, but Brittany Bryan made seven of her 12 saves in the first half, and the Eagles were unable to convert on any first half free-position shots.

The Eagles came out of the break with some of their best lacrosse of the year. Kendal Rood cut the Lycoming lead in half on a roll to the middle from behind the cage. Rood then caused a turnover and Courtney Reinhold broke through the Lycoming defense to set up a beautiful transition finish from Griffith. Jess Field caught the ball from Reinhold and, after drawing the defense, dumped the ball to Griffith on the edge of the crease for the tie.

The Eagles grabbed a 6-5 lead on another great transition goal. Moosey created the action with a strong run through pressure in the midfield. The junior from Zionsville, Ind. then flipped the ball to Allie Fultz on the edge of the crease. Fultz tucked her shot just under the bar, and the Eagles seemed to have momentum in their favor with 21 minutes to play.

Fultz scored her second of the day four minutes later out of a set offense. Fultz, standing as a feeder on the left side, let a pair of cutters run through before playing to Cairns behind the cage. Cairns delivered a beautiful return pass that Fultz buried for the two goal edge.

The Eagles seemed to have momentum on their side as they forced a quick turnover after losing the draw. A series of three shots did not produce a goal, and Kelly Dando picked up a yellow card after a scramble for a ground ball in the offensive end. 

Up a player, the Warriors cut the deficit to 7-6 on a free position goal midway through the period. Griffith picked up her second yellow card on the ensuing draw, and the visitors tied the game shortly thereafter. Cairns answered with a free position goal to give Eastern an 8-7 edge with 10 minutes to play, but McIntyre controlled the draw and raced straight to goal to tie the game with her sixth goal of the afternoon. Courtney Reinhold picked up her second yellow card of the day on the play.

Lycoming scored twice as the Eagles were down a player, and the Eastern offense was unable to close the gap late. The Eagles return to action on Tuesday when they host Rowan in a non-league game.

Box Score