Savannah, GA – Second-seed UC women's lacrosse team erased a four-goal halftime deficit before ultimately falling to top-seed Keiser 13-11 in the inaugural NAIA Women's Lacrosse Championship game. The Patriots capped off their season Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium with a 16-2 overall record and were named the NAIA runner-ups for the first time in program history.  

Leading the way for UC was Bella Ricchiazzi with four goals, an assist, three ground balls and two turnovers.  Emily Heim notched a hat trick and five draw controls, while Florence Andrieu recorded a pair of goals and three ground balls.  Olivia McCarrell made a season-high 14 saves with a caused turnover and a ground ball.

The Patriots struck first as Andrieu converted a free position shot to give UC the 1-0 lead with 25:58 remaining.  Keiser netted two of the next three goals before Heim won the ensuing draw control, raced up the field and put a well-placed shot into the cage ten seconds later, giving the Patriots a 3-2 lead.  Keiser added a goal before Ricchiazzi converted a free position to put the Patriots back in front 4-3 midway through the first half.  After a pair of Seahawks goals, Heim scooped a ground ball and connected with the cage to even the score at 5-5 with 8:56 remaining.  Keiser netted four unanswered goals to close out the half and take a 9-5 lead into the break. 

Cumberlands looked to rally in the second half as Carolina Johnson netted an unassisted goal one minute in to cut it to 9-6.  The Patriots defense clamped down forcing tough shots to keep the Seahawks off the board.  Ricchiazzi and Andrieu each converted free position goals to cut the deficit to 9-8 with 16:49  remaining.  Three minutes later, Ricchiazzi scooped the ground ball off a Heim shot and put it home for the equalizer, tying the game at 9-9.  Keiser retook the lead however, the Patriots answered as Ricchiazzi found Heim cutting in front of the cage for a goal to even the score again at 10-10 with 7:55 left.  The Seahawks added three straight goals before Tasie Fox scooped the ball across the line on a follow-up making it 13-11 with 2:18 left.  McCarrell made two of her six second half saves in the final minutes but the offense could not capitalize for the 13-11 final.

Following the game Trinity Brown, Hannah Churchley, Emily Heim, Olivia McCarrell, and Bella Ricchiazzi were named to the All-Tournament team.

The team made Cumberlands history; they become the third team to finish runner-up at the NAIA Championships. The school's highest postseason finishes also belong to the 2013 football team and the 2018 men's wrestling team.  They become the first women's team at UC to advance to the NAIA championship game, shortly after they captured their second-straight MSC regular season title earlier this year.

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