RICHMOND, Ind. – The Hanover women's lacrosse team opened Heartland Collegiate Lacrosse Conference play on the road Monday evening, falling late to Earlham, 9-8.

The Panthers (2-5, 0-1 HCLC) fell victim to a 6-2 score count in the second half and a goal by the Quakers (6-2, 1-0 HCLC) in the final two minutes gave Earlham the win.

A trio of Panthers scored two goals in the contest, including juniors Emma Boomershine (Louisville, Ky.) and Meg Finn (Newburgh, Ind.), who combined for four goals during a 5-1 scoring run to end the first half.

With HC trailing 2-1 and 19:00 showing on the first half clock, Boomershine began the scoring stretch with her first goal. Another goal from the junior, as well as two from Finn and a score by classmate Sarah Todd (Columbus, Ohio) in the closing seconds of the half put the Blue and Red up 6-3 at the intermission.

Earlham though, scored the first three goals of the second half, all in the opening eight minutes to tie the contest at six-all. Junior Kinna Laymon (Fishers, Ind.) found the back of the net at 18:06 to put HC in front 7-6, and then again at 6:26 to tie the match at 8-8.

Three turnovers by each side followed before the Quakers scored the game-winning goal with 1:32 remaining. Earlham then won the ensuing draw control to secure the victory.

Hanover finished with a 26-25 edge in shots, with both sides posting 20-plus attempts on goal. Laymon paced the Panthers with eight attempts. Senior Rachel Davis (Indianapolis, Ind.) added three shots, all on goal, as she recorded the first score of the game for HC.

Junior Julia Long (Cincinnati, Ohio) made 11 saves in goal, her third game this season with double-digit stops. Classmate Tayia Davis (Fishers, Ind.) logged a team-high five groundballs and added one of HC's four caused turnovers.

The Panthers will now return home for a three-game, non-conference stretch, beginning at 4 p.m., Wednesday, March 20, versus Trine (Ind.).

Contact: Tyler Jester

jestert@hanover.edu