STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - The LIU Brooklyn women's lacrosse team fell to league-leading Wagner, 19-10, on Friday afternoon in Staten Island, N.Y.
Sophomore Jenn Peters scored half of the Blackbirds' goals, while senior Brittany Rader scored two goals, picked up four ground balls and won three draw controls.
An early foul put Wagner up 1-0 just 45 seconds into the game, but Peters responded a minute and a half later with a free position goal of her own to tie the game. Peters struck again seven minutes later on an assist from freshman Dale Cosgrave.
The Blackbirds increased their lead to two after winning the draw control. Freshman Carly Weiss found sophomore Sierra O'Connor with 18 minutes left in the half as LIU took its biggest lead of the game so far. Junior goalkeeper Alexis Maldonado made 12 saves in the loss.
A series of turnovers kept either team from scoring until Wagner scored two quick goals to tie the game at 3-3 with just over 10 to play. A foul in the eight-meter put Rader on the hash, as she put the ball in the back of net to reclaim the LIU lead. Wagner would score twice more, including at the 1:09 mark to hold its first lead since the first minute of the game headed into the half.
Sophomore Mary McQueen scored the first goal of the second half for either team, tying the score at 5-5 five minutes in. The Seahawks regained the lead two minutes later after a LIU turnover and ground ball pick up, before increasing it by two two minutes later.
Peters cut their lead to win a free position goal with 18:40 remaining in the game. She then caused a turnover, picked up the ground ball and scored again to tie the game at 7. Wagner briefly held the lead by one but a free position goal from Rader tied the score right back at 8-8.
The Seahawks went on a 5-0 run in the next two minutes to lead 13-8 with just under 15 to go. They added another with 8:43 to go, causing LIU to take a timeout, but Wagner was able to add another after the game restarted. Two more quick goals gave Wagner the 18-8 lead with 5:45 to play. Wagner scored one more with 1:35 to go, while McQueen and Peters would each add one more to end the game.
LIU Brooklyn collected 16 ground balls and won 14 draw controls, while causing six turnovers on the day.
The Blackbirds, now 2-2 in Northeast Conference play, conclude their regular-season road schedule this Sunday, April 19 at Mount St. Mary's. Game time is set for noon.