HICKORY, N.C. - The University of Montevallo women's lacrosse team dropped its first road contest of the year, 14-11, against Lenoir-Rhyne in Hickory, North Carolina, Sunday.
 
Montevallo opened the scoring to start the game when Lily McCormick netted the first goal off an assist from Jodi Morawiec. Despite scoring first, the Falcons were outscored 3-1 in the first quarter when the Bears scored three unanswered goals.
 
To begin the second quarter, Montevallo trimmed the deficit to one when Claire Withington found the back of the net off an assist from Anja Kuys. Freshman Mikaela Barbieri evened the score up 3-3 at the 11:12 mark with an assist from Mia Black. Once again, Lenoir-Rhyne rattled off three straight unanswered to halt the Falcons and lead 6-3. Jodi Morawiec added a goal on a free-position opportunity to trim the score to 6-4 with 8:09 to go before halftime. At the 3:42 mark, Lenoir Rhyne added a goal to lead 7-4 at the break.
 
Out of halftime, two quick goals from the Falcons – one from Kuys off an assist from Crystal Williams and one from Barbieri off an assist from Morawiec – made it a one-goal game, 7-6. Four straight goals by the home side put the Falcons behind 10-6 with 6:43 to go in the third before Kuys ended the 4-0 scoring run less than a minute later, scoring off an assist from Barbieri.
 
With the Bears in front 12-7, Jeanna Piazza scored an unassisted goal at the end of the third to make it a four-goal game, 12-8.
 
Montevallo outscored Lenoir-Rhyne 3-2 in the fourth quarter but was unable to complete the comeback, falling 14-11. A man-up goal early in the quarter from Barbieri, assisted by Kiley Shea, cut the deficit to 12 but the Bears added to quick goals to pull away, 14-9. Down the stretch, Piazza and Withington each added goals for UM.

GAME NOTES

• Montevallo outshot Lenoir-Rhyne 26-23 as each side managed 19 shots on goal.
• The Falcons won the turnover battle, 23-20, and had 13 caused turnovers, compared to 12 for the hosts.
• UM completed 81 percent of its clear attempts (13-of-16) while Lenoir-Rhyne was at 76 percent (16-of-21).
• Ground Balls were in favor of the Falcons, 22-19, as Kiley Shea led UM with four.
• Freshman Mikaela Barbieri scored a team-high three goals and had four points.
• Saves fell in favor of Lenoir-Rhyne 8-5.

UP NEXT: Montevallo travels to Lenoir-Rhyne on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 1 p.m.