GWYNEDD VALLEY, Pa.– Eastern University Women's Lacrosse came up just short in dropping a 15-12 decision in a physical away game against the Gwynedd Mercy University Griffins. Morgan Wallace had four goals and two assists to lead the Eagles.

The Eagles (1-4) were within two goals at 13-11 with 12:43 to play in the match, but the host Griffins scored two-straight with an extra player to lead 15-11 with nine minutes left. The Eastern defense did not allow a goal the rest of the way, and Amira Solomon scored with six and a half minutes to play, but the Griffin defense  tightened, and the Eagles had to defend two-more man-down and could draw no closer.

The Eagles scored the first two goals of the game before the Griffins went on a four-goal run. Wallace set up Gracie Horton for her first of three for the 1-0 lead. 53 seconds later, Wallace swept into the fan to double that lead. Wallace closed the gap to 4-3 with 44 seconds left in the quarter, but Gwynedd had an answer with a nice combination in front of the cage for  goal with eight seconds left for a 5-3 lead after a quarter.

The host's margin stayed within three goals through the end of the half and through the third quarter as both teams seemed to capitalize on draw controls. The Eagles had a 15-14 edge at the draw for the game, but that edge was nullified by an extra four turnovers and a 50-percent clearing rate for the game.

Through three periods, when the Eagles got into settled attack, they created chances and scored at a good clip. With an aggressive ride, the Griffins picked up seven cards while forcing numerous turnovers through three periods. The cards shifted to the Eagles in the fourth. Eastern played down at least one player for nearly half the final frame.
After Gwynedd (2-7)  went up 13-8 with a goal early in the fourth, the Eagles scored three-straight in a 75-second stretch to close the gap. Natalia Willoughby dunked in a pass from Ava Weiman for her second gaol of the day. Weiman then rolled the crease for a goal before Willoughby buried a player-down goal to close the gap to two.

After winning the subsequent draw control, the Eagles had a chance to pull within one, but a good defensive play on the crease forced a turnover and the Eagles went down a player after a card.

The Eagles will host Centenary University at noon on Saturday.