ST. MARY'S CITY, Md. – For the second time this season, the St. Mary's College of Maryland women's lacrosse team fell to a nationally-ranked opponent as St. Mary's College (3-2) dropped a 12-8 non-conference decision to No. 21 The Catholic University of America (2-3) Wednesday night (March 8).
 
How It Happened

• St. Mary's jumped on the scoreboard first behind a free position goal by sophomore attacker Hailey Betch (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park) just 33 seconds in. This would be the Seahawks first and only lead of the game.

• The Cardinals responded with three straight to stake a 3-1 advantage with 9:28 remaining in the first quarter. The two sides then alternated scoring the next four goals, including sophomore midfielder Colin Horton (University Park, Md./Elizabeth Seton) getting one with 57 ticks on the clock to pull St. Mary's with one before Catholic's Grace Hill scored with 14 seconds to go to give the visitors a 5-3 lead heading into the second frame.

• The Seahawks closed the gap to one once again as Betch put another past Lauren Sullivan almost five minutes into the second period. St. Mary's tied the game at 8:53 but the officials called back the goal due to an illegal stick.
• Catholic took advantage of the momentum shift and scored the next two for a three-goal cushion, its biggest lead thus far, before first-year attacker Katelin Scala (Catonsville, Md./Mount de Sales) cut it to two with her first of the night. Izzy Fiore and Grace Hill would each then notch a goal for the Cardinals a minute apart and the visitors went into halftime with a 9-5 advantage.
• Catholic opened the second half with back-to-back goals in an 18-second span as Caroline Beckett had a hand in both with a goal and an assist for the Cardinals biggest lead of the game, 11-5, with 11:21 remaining in the third stanza.
• The Seahawks appeared to have made it 11-7 with 5:22 left in the third but the hosts had a second goal disallowed for another illegal stick. St. Mary's continued to battle and got its seventh goal of the game over a minute later off the stick of senior captain Lily Davison (Phoenix, Md./Dulaney).
• The Seahawk run extended into the final period as Horton scored her second of the night to pull St. Mary's within three with 6:23 remaining in the game.
• Catholic tacked on one more with a free position goal three minutes later and then won the ensuing draw control. Junior goalie Maddie Clemmer (Middletown, Md./Middletown) came through with her 12th save of the game to get the ball back for the Seahawks, who generated one more offensive opportunity before time expired.

Inside the Box Score

• Catholic outshot the Seahawks, 33-19, and posted a 33-18 margin in ground balls.
• The Cardinals controlled possession throughout the game by winning 17 of 24 draw controls.

 
St. Mary's College Game Notes

• Betch finished the night with two goals and an assist while Horton added two goals.
• Scala also chipped in a season-tying three points on a goal and season-tying two assists.
• First-year Carsyn Smith (Crownsville, Md./Old Mill) picked up a season-best five ground balls while junior attacker Bella Dunigan (Catonsville, Md./Catonsville) collected three draws and scored once.
• Clemmer matched her career-highs of 12 saves and three ground balls in the game.

 
Catholic Game Notes

• Hill led the Cardinals with three goals while Kate Olsen contributed two goals and two assists.

• Jessie Lee grabbed a game-best seven draw controls.

Up Next for the Seahawks

• Mar. 11 vs. Dickinson (4-0) – Sparks, Md./USA Lacrosse National Headquarters (One Love Game) – 5:00 p.m.

 
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