Owings Mills, Md. – The St. Mary's College of Maryland women's lacrosse team dropped a heartbreaking 8-7 non-conference decision to the host Stevenson University Mustangs Friday night. Stevenson picked up its second straight win by holding off the Seahawks' late rally.

Senior attacker Emily Shafer (Leonardtown, Md./Leonardtown) and first-year midfielder Shelby Newman (Hampstead, Md./Manchester Valley) commanded St. Mary's offense with three points each on two goals and an assist.

Newman put the Seahawks (2-4) on the board first as Shafer assisted on the goal at 23:17. Stevenson (2-1) responded with two goals in under a three-minute span to stage a 2-1 lead at 14:57. Sophomore midfielder Daniella Hanacek (Rockville, Md./T.S. Wootton) evened up the score 75 seconds later off an assist from first-year midfielder Brynn Miller (Frederick, Md./Urbana).

The Mustangs headed into halftime with a 4-2 advantage following scores from attackers Kathryn Merrick (Bel Air, Md.) and Marissa Meiklejohn (Severn, Md.). Five turnovers in the final 8:43 of the first half kept St. Mary's at a two-goal deficit.

Merrick and junior attacker Leah Warner (Pasadena, Md.) paced Stevenson with two goals each.

The Seahawks regrouped during intermission and opened up the second half with a 4-1 run to claim a 6-5 margin at 16:16. Shafer scored twice in a span of 1:09, including just 42 seconds into the start of the second stanza. Less than four minutes later, Stevenson answered with three straight goals in less than two minutes to regain the lead and an 8-6 advantage at 10:29.

Neither team found the back of the net for the next nine minutes until first-year attacker Taylor Sartor (Towson, Md./Loch Raven) broke through for St. Mary's with an unassisted goal at 1:33, closing the gap to one. Stevenson won the ensuing draw and effectively killed the clock.

Newman contributed as well with a game-high six ground balls and team-best three draw controls while defensively, senior captain Lauren Gray (Edgewater, Md./South River) and junior defender Sarah Harnish (Annapolis, Md./Annapolis) each picked up two caused turnovers.

Seahawk goalie Michelle DiMenna (Towson, Md./Notre Dame Prep) had a solid performance with 10 saves, including seven stops in the first half. For Stevenson, sophomore Leanne Bittner (Baltimore, Md.) notched eight saves, including six in the second stanza.

St. Mary's will be back in action next Friday, March 15 when the Seahawks welcome McDaniel College to Seahawk Stadium for non-conference action at 4:00 pm.

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