WALTHAM, Mass. The American International College women's lacrosse team battled back from a five-goal second half deficit, but ultimately fell in Northeast-10 Conference road action at Bentley University Saturday afternoon, 10-8.

With the loss AIC falls to 6-3 overall and 3-2 in league play, while with the win Bentley improves to 4-5 and 2-3 in NE-10 play.

Trailing 6-2 at the intermission, AIC allowed its seventh goal of the day at the 20:41 mark to fall behind, 7-2.

AIC responded just 16 seconds later with a junior Riley Brennan (Wilbraham, Mass.) strike from freshman Mary Bates (East Longmeadow, Mass.). The goal opened a four-run stretch for the Jackets who clawed back within one, 7-6, at the 16:36 mark. Senior Stephanie Dufresne (Belchertown, Mass.) scored two of her team-high five goals, bookending a tally from junior Jessica Lawler (Mexico, N.Y.). All three goals were unassisted, while Lawler's was a converted man-up opportunity.

Bentley halted the Jacket momentum with a Kathleen Gillespie goal at the 13:56 mark. Dufresne scored twice more with under 10 minutes to go, but the Falcons had an answer each time including a dagger with three seconds to go from Gillespie.

The Jackets fell behind early, allowing a Hannah Lindgren goal just 43 seconds into the contest that sparked a four-goal start for the Falcons. It took 34:39 of first half action for AIC o get on the board as Dufresne netted her first of the day, an unassisted, man-up goal.

Lawler found Bates for her 11th of the season to cut the Bentley lead to three, 5-3, but the Falcons scored another heading into the break.

It was a fairly evenly matched game throughout. Bentley narrowly outshot AIC, 32-27, and on net 23-20. Led by senior Sydney DeArmond's (Westborough, Mass.) four, AIC picked up 22 ground balls in all to Bentley's 18. Jacket junior Alexis Torosian (Hopkinton, Mass.) made 13 saves in the losing effort.

AIC returns home Tuesday, Apr. 5 when they play host to New Haven at Abdow Field. Gametime is slated to start at 7 p.m.