Waleska, GA – The second-ranked Patriots women's lacrosse team rallied in the second half to overcome a six-goal deficit but it wasn't enough as UC fell to fourth-ranked Reinhardt 14-13 in the AAC championship game, Saturday afternoon.  The Patriots move to 16-2 on the season.

Bella Ricchiazzi led the way for UC with six goals and eight points in the game, while Aleyah Belton tallied three goals, five points and eight ground balls.  Emma Rittman chipped in three goals, 10 draw controls, and nine ground balls.

Defensively, Olivia McCarrell made 12 saves, while Anna Lobbezoo tallied four draw controls and scooped seven ground balls.  Koral Hadac and Erin Bryant combined for six caused turnovers and six ground balls.

Reinhardt struck first, however the Patriots responded with an unassisted goal from Ricchiazzi to even the score at 1-1 just over two minutes into the game.  UC won the ensuing draw control an on that possession, Rittman put a well-placed shot into the cage to give the Patriots a 2-1 advantage.  McCarrell made a pair of saves, while Ricchiazzi scored her second goal making it 3-2 with 9:11 remaining.  The Eagles closed out the first quarter with three unanswered goals to take a 5-3 lead.

Cumberlands pulled within a goal as Ricchiazzi found Belton on the left wing and the sophomore cut towards the cage and put a shot into the net to make it 5-4 with 13:04 remaining in the second quarter.  Reinhardt closed out the half with three straight goals to extend their lead to 8-4 at the break. 

The Eagles added two more goals to open the third quarter to extend their lead to 10-4, however, the Patriots began to rally as Rittman won the draw control and connected with Ricchiazzi for a goal.  After an McCarrell save, Belton found Marisa Helsten open in front of the cage for a goal making it 10-6 with 10:38 left in the third.  Ricchiazzi and Rittman scored back-to-back goals to cap off this four-goal and cut the deficit to 10-8. 

The score remained that way until the 14:18 mark in the fourth quarter as Reinhardt added a goal to extend their lead to 12-9.  Cumberlands picked up the defensive pressure as McCarrell turned away a pair of free position shots, while Bryant forced an Eagles turnover and scooped the ground ball.  On that possession, Belton notched a free position goal to pull the Patriots within two.  A couple minutes later, Ricchiazzi was at the 12-meter arc and found Rittman in front of the cage as she turned a fired the goal to make it 12-11 with 4:57 remaining. The two teams traded goals twice as Belton and Ricchiazzi earned goals for UC to cut the deficit to 14-13 with 2:26 remaining.  Rittman won the ensuing draw control however the Patriots couldn't fire off a shot for the 14-13 final.

Aleyah Belton, Olivia McCarrell, and Bella Ricchiazzi were named to the AAC All-Tournament Team.

UC will now await the announcement of the 2023 NAIA Women's Lacrosse Tournament field. It's expected to be announced on Sunday, April 22, at 4 p.m.

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