GETTYSBURG, Pa. – The Ursinus College women's lacrosse team drew the toughest matchup possible for its Centennial Conference opener, dropping an 18-5 decision to top-ranked Gettysburg on Saturday.
Senior Bridget Sherry and sophomore Hanna Crowley each scored twice and senior Kaci McNeave dished out three assists for the Bears (1-7, 0-1), who did manage to match their best offensive output against the Bullets in five years. Lauren Cole netted four goals and Liza Barr handed out six assists for the two-time defending national champions.
Gettysburg (7-0, 1-0) scored just 26 seconds into the game, part of an opening 5-0 run capped by a pair of goals only 11 seconds apart. Junior Haley O'Malley stopped the Bullets' run and dented the scoreboard first for Ursinus at the 19:17 mark off a pass from McNeave, who also set up a goal by Sherry less than two minutes later to cut the hosts' advantage to 5-2.
The orange and blue proceeded to reel off seven unanswered markers until Crowley sent home a free-position shot with 5:04 to play in the first half.
The Bears held down the vaunted offense of Gettysburg for much of the second half, permitting only four goals until the home side put one through with 2 seconds remaining. Sherry scored on a free-position attempt at the 23-minute mark of the second stanza, and McNeave set up Crowley's second goal with 16:03 on the clock.
Senior Courtney Cortese controlled four draws and Sherry added three for Ursinus, which held its own in that category as the Bullets managed only a 13-10 surplus in the circle. Gettysburg owned a 34-14 advantage in shots.
Senior Abby Goldstein got her second career start in goal and made five saves in the first half before she was replaced by classmate Kaitlyn France, who registered three stops while playing the entire second half.
Ursinus returns home to take on Swarthmore on Saturday, March 30.