MANCHESTER, New Hampshire-The American International College women's lacrosse team rallied but could never quite overcome a second-half deficit as it fell to the Hawks of Saint Anselm College in Northeast-10 play on Saturday, March 18.
AIC's record drops to 1-3 overall with the defeat, including an 0-2 NE10 mark.
"It was a tough game," said head coach Ashley Casiano. "Our defense played phenomenally despite the outcome; we held their best player to one goal on an eight-meter, and we executed our game plan defensively. Our transition was the problem - we had six failed clears. We didn't shoot enough, either; you're not going to win a game with 18 shots. That was the difference."
Down 1-0 early, the Yellow Jackets tied the game on a shot by senior attacker Riley Brennan, who netted her team-best ninth of the year on a pass from senior attacker Jessica Lawler at 7:36; AIC then took the lead less than three minutes later on sophomore attacker Mary Bates' fifth goal of the season, assisted by senior midfielder Stefanie Dufresne.
The lead held until the final minute of the half, when the Hawks netted two goals in a span of :25 to take a 3-2 lead into the break. They then scored the first two out of the break to lead 5-2 with 24:26 to play.
The Yellow Jackets rallied, as sophomore midfielder Mikayla Demanche buried her fifth of the year on a pass from the right side from graduate midfielder Erica McLean, and Brennan ripped home a free position shot to bring the score back within one.
The Hawks rebounded with two goals of their own, but AIC battled back again, with Dufrense's sixth of the year at 17:30 and Brennan capping her hat trick at 20:49 to get the score to 7-6 Hawks.
Saint Anselm once again found the cage twice, extending the lead back to three, and while Dufresne scored on a free position shot with 3:01 left, the Hawks would hold on for the 10-7 win.
Defensively, rookie Allison Roy had three ground balls and a caused turnover, while senior midfielder Abigail Cavallo had two ground balls and caused two turnovers for the Yellow Jackets.
In net, senior Alexis Torosian made 10 saves, keeping her team in the game at times with stops
AIC next travels to Le Moyne College to face the Dolphins in a 4 p.m. start in Syracuse, New York.
