SCRANTON, Pa. – The University of Scranton women's lacrosse team (1-5) put together a valiant comeback effort, but fell just short in a 7-5 loss to the St. John Fisher University Cardinals (4-1) in a non-conference matchup on Saturday afternoon at Weiss Field in Scranton.

This marked just the second all-time meeting between the programs and the first since Mar. 24, 2001.

St. John Fisher grabbed an early 4-0 lead after the first quarter, but sophomore Grace Lane (Long Beach, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy) got the Royals on the board at the 10:35 mark of the second period. The Cardinals eventually took a 5-1 lead in the locker room.

Lane cut the lead to 5-2 with a goal in the early stages of the third quarter before St. John Fisher responded to make it 6-2. Scranton then drew within a pair as junior Tara Kotten (New City, N.Y./Clarkstown South) took a feed from junior Devyn Tanajewski (Ringwood, N.J./Lakeland Regional) and Lane scored her third of the day with just eight seconds left in the third quarter to cut the lead to 6-4. Junior Erin Reich (Rockville Centre, N.Y./South Side) found the back of the net with 7:13 left in the fourth for Scranton, but the hosts were unable to get any closer in the tough loss.

Lane tallied three goals and an assist to lead the way for the Royals offensively and has scored three plus goals in all six games this season.

Elsewhere for Scranton, Tanajewski added three draw controls and two ground balls and junior Nicolina Mauro (South Hempstead, N.Y./South Side) caused a pair of turnovers.

Sophomore goalie Lauren Boldis (Merrick, N.Y./Sanford H. Calhoun) registered 15 saves in net for the Royals.

Courtney O'Dea and Mykenzie Black scored two goals apiece to pace St. John Fisher.

The University of Scranton women's lacrosse team will host Rowan on Wednesday afternoon at Weiss Field with start time slated for 4 p.m.

--ROYALS--