ERIE, PA. -Despite erasing a four goal deficit, two late fourth quarter goals from Gannon proved to be the difference in a 12-10 loss for the Daemen University women's lacrosse team in intercollegiate women's lacrosse action Saturday afternoon at McConnell Family Stadium.
 
With the win, the Golden Knights improved to 2-3 while the Wildcats dropped to 2-4.
 
Ella Todd paced Gannon with seven points off two goals and five assists while Charlie Hunter and Rayla Smith notched three goals each. In net, Heleigh Manning collected a game-high seven ground balls and made 11 saves for the win.
 
Senior Cameron Briggs (Buffalo, N.Y.) paced the Daemen offense with three points (2G, 1A), while junior Ella Bouley (Auburn, N.Y.) and senior Camryn Day (Hamburg, N.Y.) tallied two goals each. Senior Katelynn Deveans (Clinton, N.Y.) notched a season-high four draw controls while in net, freshman Molly Evans (Fulton, N.Y.) made eight saves.
 
Tied 2-2 after the first quarter, the Daemen offense took off as a goal from sophomore attacker Shannen Calandra (Rome, N.Y.) kicked off a 3-0 run for the 'Cats to put them ahead, 5-2, with 11:57 to play. Still, the Golden Knights stymied Daemen the rest of the half while they scored six unanswered goals and entered the locker room with a 8-5 lead.
 
After a Gannon goal to begin the second half, the Wildcats stopped the hosts scoring run as a man-up goal from sophomore Cadence Baran (Lancaster, N.Y.) opened up a short 3-0 spurt for the Wildcats that trimmed their defecit to one, 9-8, with 7:13 remaining in the third. Each side scored once more before the start of the fourth quarter with Gannon still ahead, 10-9.
 
Briggs began the fourth quarter with a bang for Daemen as she slotted a ball past Manning to bring the 'Cats all the way back and tie the game, 10-10, with 11:57 to play. Still, that was as close as Daemen got for the rest of the contest as goals from Lang and Hunter secured the 12-10 win for Gannon.
 
Despite the loss, Daemen ended the game with a 33-24 edge in shots and 21-20 lead in shots on goal. Gannon, however, finished the afternoon with a close 24-21 edge in ground balls and 14-12 advantage in draw controls.
 
GAME NOTES
• Today marked the third all-time meeting between the two schools.
• Bouley is now eight points away from becoming the first Daemen player to notch 100 career points all with the Wildcats
• Evans has made eight-or-more saves in all but one game this year.
• This is the second game for Daemen this year decided by two or less goals.  
 
UP NEXT
Daemen returns home to face nationally ranked Saint Anselm on March 20. Opening draw is set for 6 p.m. Daemen University features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.
 
Follow the Daemen women's program on Twitter and Instagram at @DaemenWLAX.