Williamsburg, KY – The fourth-ranked UC women's lacrosse team rallied in the second half as they defeated ninth-ranked Marian 16-15 Saturday afternoon at the UC Lacrosse Complex.  The win is the Patriots ninth consecutive season-opening victory.

Anna Lobbezoo recorded a team-high six points, including four goals, while Aleyah Belton notched a team-high five goals.  Emma Rittman notched four goals and scooped 13 draw controls, while Morgan Terpstra notched two goals.  Koral Hadac tallied five draw controls, five ground balls, and a pair of caused turnovers.  Mia Bosah made nine saves to earn her first win of the season.

Marian struck first, however, Cumberlands responded with free position goals from Belton and Terpstra to take a 2-1 lead with 6:28 remaining.  Rittman scooped the draw control and on the ensuing possession Lobbezoo found Rittman cutting towards the cage for a goal to extend the lead.  Both goalies made a save in the closing minute of the quarter, however, a pair of Knight's goal tied the score at 3-3.

The teams traded goals to open the second quarter before Bosah made three straight saves to keep the score even at 4-4.  Marian netted two of the next three goals before Lobbezzoo put a well-placed shot into the cage to even the score at 6-6 with 6.8 seconds left in the first half.

Trailing 8-6 three minutes into the third quarter the Patriots began to rally as Belton completed her first hat trick to pull UC within one at 9:06 remaining.  Bosah added two more saves before Belton converted on a man-up goal to tie the game at 8-8.  In the closing minute of the quarter, Hadac intercepted a Knight's pass and led a transition, which Ashlee Baker capped off with her first collegiate goal as the game was tied 9-9 heading into the fourth quarter.

Terpstra and Rittman each converted a free position goal to give Cumberlands an 11-9 lead three minutes into the fourth.  After trading goals, Lobbezoo won the draw control, raced up field, and put a well-placed shot into the goal for a goal making it 13-10, UC's largest lead of the game. Belton and Lobbezoo each added a free position goal to make it 15-12 with 6:01 remaining.  Marian scored twice before Hadac won a draw control and on the ensuing possession with the shot clock running down Lobbezoo connected with Rittman for what turned out to be the game-winning goal.  
 
Cumberlands will travel to the West Palm Beach, FL to face third-ranked Keiser on Saturday, February 23, at 2 p.m.

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