Box Score DENVER, Colo. – In a matchup between two top 20 teams in Division II of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA), the No. 18 ranked Regis University women's lacrosse team (4-1, 0-0 RMAC) battled the No. 8 ranked Lock Haven University Bald Eagles (4-0, 0-0 PSAC) and came up just short, losing the game 9-8 to the visitors.
Regis drew first blood as senior Erin Todd netted the first goal of the game in the third minute of the opening half. The Eagles responded with two goals of their own before Todd answered with her second goal of the game, coming off a pass from fellow senior Hilary Duda.
For the next 19 minutes of the first half, the Rangers and LHU traded goals back and forth with goals coming from Todd, Duda, and freshman Sarah Myres leading to a 5-5 tie with two minutes remaining in the half.
Junior Erin Steiner netted her first goal of the game with only 45 seconds to go before halftime, giving RU a 6-5 lead. Regis took that lead into halftime, hoping to build on the momentum they had prior to the break.
After halftime, the Bald Eagles took only five minutes to tie the game at six goals apiece, but the Rangers responded with a goal of their own as senior Melissa Hastie took a pass from Duda and put the ball past the LHU goalkeeper to give the home team a 7-6 advantage.
The Bald Eagles then went on a three goal run to take a 9-7 lead with nine minutes left in the game. RU got another goal from Todd in the 25th minute, but as hard as they tried to net the equalizer, it never came to fruition. The home team took the loss 9-8 to the No. 8 ranked team in the nation.
In their first loss of the year, Regis out-hustled LHU tracking down 18 ground balls to 15 for the visitors. The Rangers also managed to go 12-14 on clear attempts, and sophomore goalkeeper Kenley Harrington (4-1) made 11 saves to nine for her counterpart. The Bald Eagles outshot RU 24-21, but Regis (12) protected the ball better overall, committing two less turnovers than LHU (14) in the game.
The women's lacrosse team will return to the field on Thursday, March 17 to host McKendree University (2-1, 1-0 GLIAC) at 3 p.m.
