COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Ursinus College women's lacrosse team fell just short on Wednesday evening, losing 12-11 to Rowan in the Bears' home opener. Freshman Katie Cressman earned her first career hat-trick, scoring a total of three goals, while Hanna Crowley and Reilly Morgan added two goals apiece as well.

In the early goings, it was Rowan applying pressure on offense. The Profs scored a pair of goals in the first five minutes as the Bears found themselves down 2-0. Abby Krasutsky answered, scoring her first goal of the season to put Ursinus on the board.

Rowan came back and matched with a goal of its own to go up 3-1 before Ursinus took over. The Bears would score the game's next four goals, two of which were assisted by Katherine Eckhoff. On the first, she fed Haley O'Malley coming in from behind the net on the give-and-go and then she hit Crowley who found the back of the net at the top of the crease, tying the game at 3-3.

Krasutsky capped off the run of four goals in a little under five minutes as she scored her second goal of the game. The Profs ended their 13-minute scoreless run, scoring on a free position shot. The two teams traded goals the rest of the way. For the Bears, it was Cressman scoring her first career goal before three late goals by Rowan had Ursinus down 8-6 heading into the half.

The Bears tightened up on defense in the second half and controlled possession early on. Jill Verrelle scored her first goal of the year to bring Ursinus back within one and then it was the freshman, Cressman who tied it on a free position shot at 8-8.

The Profs responded to retake the lead, but the Bears came right back. Crowley scored on a free-position shot to tie the game once again before Cressman also scored on an eight-meter attempt to give Ursinus its first lead of the second half.

The two teams traded goals with the Bears' coming from Morgan who was fed a nice pass from Crowley as she came across the middle to go up 11-10. Rowan tied the game once again and then scored off an Ursinus turnover behind its own net with 2:31 remaining to go up 12-11, which would prove to be enough.

The Bears had late chances, notably on a shot from Morgan with 10 seconds remaining, but were unable to find the back of the net.

On the defensive side, Alexa Machado stepped up big in net. The freshman goalkeeper came up with big saves in the second half which included five saves on free position shots. Machado and the Bears held the Profs to just 2-for-10 in free position chances. Becca Lewis caused three turnovers and Julia Gilpin had two. 

Ursinus will be back in action on Saturday when it heads on the road to play Albright.