MARS HILL, N.C. – The Emory & Henry University Women's Lacrosse Team (3-5, 0-4 SAC) battled for all 60 minutes Wednesday afternoon, but eventually came up just short to Mars Hill University (2-6, 1-3 SAC) in South Atlantic Conference competition. The entire game was played within a two-goal window with the Lions coming away with the 10-9 victory. 

The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Mars Hill 10, Emory & Henry 9
LOCATION – Mars Hill, North Carolina
VENUE – Meares Stadium
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (3-5, 0-4 SAC); Mars Hill (2-6, 1-3 SAC)

How It Happened
- The Lions jumped on top early as they tallied the first two scores of the game, but the Wasps answered back at the 4:01 mark when sophomore defender Cyrianna Lee (Tampa, Fla.) broke through with an unassisted goal, the first of her collegiate career, to make it 2-1. After a MHU goal, sophomore attacker Avery McHargue (Weaverville, N.C.) got E&H back on the board with a goal assisted by senior attacker Mina Hicks (Lexington Park, Md.) to draw the Wasps back within one at 3-2 at the end of the opening period.
- Emory & Henry struck first in the second as sophomore attacker Brooklyn Halter (Alcoa, Tenn.) recorded an unassisted goal at the 12:25 mark to level the score at 3-3. Mars Hill would retake the lead on a player-up goal just over three minutes later, but the Wasps evened the score once more with 5:02 to play in the third when Hicks found freshman midfielder Alex Costello (Johnson City, Tenn.) who beat the goalie to run the score to 4-4 at the halftime break.
- E&H took its first lead of the game at the 11:40 mark of the third period when junior midfielder Justyce Jones (Jacksonville, N.C.) slotted a shot into the back of the net to put the Wasps up 5-4. Mars Hill responded with back-to-back goals, but Emory & Henry got back on the board with just over seven minutes left in the stanza when freshman midfielder Madison Stewart (Blacksburg, Va.) converted a free-position shot a player down for the fourth tie of the game at 6-6. The Lions would go on to add one more goal to take a narrow 7-6 lead into the fourth and decisive frame.
- MHU scored first in the fourth, but Jones added another goal on an assist from Hicks to reduce the deficit to one at 8-7. The Lions increased their margin back out to two until Costello found the net once again with 9:25 to play. Mars Hill would add their final goal of the game with 9:09 left and held the Wasps scoreless until the final second of the game when Hicks converted another free-position shot, but it was not quite enough as the home team escaped with the 10-9 win. 

Emory & Henry Individual Leaders
- Jones paced the Wasps with two goals, two ground balls, one draw control and a caused turnover. Costello finished with a pair of goals while Hicks added one goal, three assists, three ground balls and three draw controls.
- Sophomore midfielder Natalie Harris (Hillsville, Va.) contributed a team-high six ground balls and caused a pair of turnovers. McHargue registered one goal and four draw controls for the Wasps.
- Junior goalie Kaitlyn Evans (Gambrills, Md.) made nine saves and collected five ground balls in net for Emory & Henry. 

Mars Hill Individual Leaders
- Brooklyn Nemitz led the way for the Lions with a game-high four goals and a ground ball. Haley Stallings recorded a pair of goals, one ground ball and a pair of draw controls. Four other Lions had one goal each.
- Victoria Kaercher and Emma Porterfield combined for two saves for Mars Hill in the win. 

Up Next
- Emory & Henry returns home on Sunday, March 23 when the Wasps welcome the No. 19 nationally-ranked Bulldogs of Wingate University. First draw is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. from the Food City Sports Complex. 

--E&H--