Eastern University Women's Lacrosse fell to FDU-Florham in the opening round of the MAC Playoffs. Though the Eastern offense had several stretches of effective play, the host Devils used a dominating draw and pinpoint shooting to earn the 20-11 victory.

After FDU-opened the scoring with a free position goal, the Eagles were able to score two straight to grab a 2-1 lead very early. Grace Griffith scored the tying goal on a nice drive through traffic, and Krystal Cairns converted an FDU turnover into a one one one chance.  

FDU then scored nine straight goals to seize control of the game. The Devils scored on ten of 13 shots in the first half. Though the Eastern defense was able to force some turnovers in the stretch, the host Devils were effective in winning the ball back without giving up shots. The hosts won ten of the 16 draws before the intermission.

Down 10-2, the Eagles pieced together a rally late in the period to close the gap to 10-5 at half. Kelly Dando scored with just over five minutes to play on a drive from the right side. Griffith then scored her second of the day on a powerful drive through traffic. The score was the 70th of the year for the junior from Amherst, Mass. Kendall Rood then buried a quick-stick goal on a feed from Cairns.

The assist was the 36th of the season for the senior attack. The former defender finishes with the third highest single-season total in Eastern women's lacrosse history. Prior to her senior season, Cairns had no assists and had hardly ever ventured across the restraining line. Her single season total of 36 puts her just outside the career top ten.

After half, the hosts scored four quick goals to build the lead back to 14-5. Jess Field scored with 22:24 on a nice drive from the left side, but FDU answered again. Griffith, Lindsey Moosey, Rood, and Sarah Hager each scored in a three minute stretch to close the gap to 16-10 with 17 minutes to play, but the Eagles were never able to close the gap further. 

Kelly Dando scored Eastern's final goal of the day on a free position shot. The Devils scored their 20 goals on just 28 shots. Linda Bohn and Kristen Schuster each scored five times for the hosts. 

"They were good at keeping us in our defensive zone," Eastern Coach Camrin Azzarano pointed out, "and as hard as we worked defensively, they just did not miss many shots. We were not winning any draws early. When we started to win draws, we started to score goals. I thought our girls battled to the end, but they were the better team today."

The Eagles (8-10) will lose Cairns and midfielder Sarah Hager to graduation. Hager, a four year starter, scored her seventh goal of the year after battling for a loose ball in the fan. 

Griffith finishes the year with 71 goals and 21 assists. Going into her senior season, she has 177 goals and 57 assists. Those numbers put her sixth in career goals, sixth in career assists and fifth in total points. 

FDU will take on Messiah College in the MAC Semifinal on Thursday.