KENOSHA, Wis. -- The Trine University women's lacrosse team dropped their first contest of the season to a tough squad from Carthage College by the final score of 17-10.
The first quarter was an evenly paced with both teams pressuring the opposition and coming out even on the scoreboard. The Firebirds struck first in the contest with the opening goal coming at the 50 seconds. The Thunder would respond just inside of 11 minutes remaining on the back of a shot by senior Liv Ghent (Byron Center, Mich. / Caledonia). Freshman Calista Richmond (Portage, Mich. / Portage) added an assist on the goal.
Over the next four minutes the two teams would each score another goal, first for Carthage with just under ten remaining and then Richmond would tie the game with her first goal of the day with 7:25 remaining. The score would hold at two all into the first break.
The Firebirds outmatched the Thunder in the second quarter scoring seven goals, including four to start the period. Ghent would score her second to end the run at the beginning of the period and her third with just over two minutes remaining in the half. Despite her work the team would trail 9-4 going into the intermission.
Trine would cut into the deficit in the third period outscoring the home team four to three. Richmond got the scoring started with 11:10 remaining followed by sophomore Alyssa Keptner (Midland, Mich. / H.H. Dow) recording her lone goal of the game. The final two would both go to Ghent and the team would trail 12-8 going into the final quarter.
Ghent would start the fourth pulling the team back within three with her sixth goal. She would lead both teams in goals and points in the contest ending the game with seven. Carthage scored next, but Richmond would respond to keep the deficit at three. She would end the game with three goals and an assist second on the team.
The comeback would end there, with the Firebirds scoring the final four goals of the game to win 17-10.
In net for Trine a pair of student-athletes split time. Senior Jillian Rejczyk (Wauconda, Ill. / Wauconda) started the game and finished with six saves. Freshman Maddy Kasten (Battle Creek, Mich. / Harper Creek) finished the game with seven saves.
The rest of the defensive effort was spread out among the team with 16 different members of the team recording at least one groundball. Kasten would lead the team with five.
The team falls to 3-1 following the loss. They will next take the field when they travel to face Earlham College on Saturday, March 19. The contest is set to start at 4 p.m.