LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Bloomsburg women's lacrosse team erased a seven-goal fourth-quarter deficit and twice pulled within two late in the quarter, but Lock Haven held on for an 18-14 victory Wednesday afternoon at Charlotte Smith Field.

Bloomsburg (1-1) outscored Lock Haven 7-4 in the fourth quarter and controlled the draw control, 21-14, but could not overcome a 14-7 deficit entering the final period.

The Huskies struck first just 44 seconds into the game when Samantha Keck (Denver, Pa./Cocalico) finished an assist from Alexis Guzylak (Corning, N.Y./Horseheads) to make it 1-0. Lock Haven responded with four straight goals, including a free-position score, to take a 4-1 lead. Kendall Kroniser (St. Michael's, Md./Saints Peter and Paul) answered with an unassisted goal late in the quarter to cut the margin to 4-2 after one.

Lock Haven opened the second quarter with back-to-back goals to extend its lead to 6-2 before Bloomsburg responded. Delaney Fox (Barto, Pa./Boyertown) converted off a feed from Marykate Sitko (Pennsburg, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) and Ava Corvino (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) added an unassisted tally to pull within 6-4. The Bald Eagles closed the half on a 3-1 run, though Payton Bettys (Palm, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) scored a woman-up goal off an assist from Emily Gauker (Mohnton, Pa./Governor Mifflin) late in the quarter to send the Huskies into halftime trailing 9-5.

The hosts created separation in the third, scoring five times in the period to push the advantage to 13-6. Brianna Austin (Plymouth Meeting, Pa./Plymouth Whitemarsh) stopped the run with an unassisted goal, and Gauker added another score with 4:03 remaining, but a late woman-up goal by Lock Haven sent Bloomsburg to the fourth down 14-7.

The Huskies mounted a furious comeback in the final 15 minutes. Keck opened the quarter with a woman-up goal from Guzylak to spark a rally. Austin and Fox followed with consecutive goals to trim the deficit to 14-10. After Kroniser made it 14-11, Fox capped a 5-0 run with her third goal of the game to bring Bloomsburg within 14-12 with six minutes to play.

Lock Haven answered with four straight goals to push the lead back to 18-12 with 1:16 remaining. Bloomsburg refused to fold, as Austin scored off a Sitko assist and Guzylak added a goal 14 seconds later to make it 18-14 in the final minute, but time expired before the Huskies could complete the comeback.

Fox and Austin led Bloomsburg with three goals each, while Keck and Kroniser added two apiece. Sitko finished with three assists as the Huskies matched Lock Haven with 33 shots and held a 28-26 edge in shots on goal, but the Bald Eagles' 14 saves proved decisive.

Emily Simpson (North Wales, Pa./Lansdale Catholic) had a career-day in the circle for the Huskies, winning 15 draw controls to help keep possession with Bloomsburg.
Emily Graham (Wantagh, N.Y./St. Anthony's) finished with three saves while Natalie Drake (Worcester, Pa./Methacton) made eight saves for the Huskies.
 
Bloomsburg returns home on Saturday, February 28 when they host non-conference opponent Frostburg for a 1:00 p.m. game at Steph Pettit Stadium.