SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Senior attacker Gabi Toohey (Oradell, N.J./River Dell) put a career-best six goals in the back of the net and senior captain Libby Dex (Coopersburg, Pa./Southern Lehigh) made 20 saves but the Susquehanna University women's lacrosse team dropped a heartbreaking decision Saturday afternoon. Susquehanna (0-1) fell short, 13-12, in a tough battle with DeSales University (2-0) in the River Hawks' home- and season-opener.
 
Susquehanna 12, DeSales 13
 
How It Happened

• The Bulldogs opened up the scoring early on but senior attacker Stephanie Dowling (Berkeley Heights, N.J./Gov. Livingston) was quick to respond, which sparked a 4-0 run for Susquehanna behind Toohey's two goals and one by sophomore midfielder Katie Hoerman (Glenmoore, Pa./Downingtown) for a 4-1 SU lead at 23:15.
• DeSales pulled one back but Dowling and Toohey both tacked on goals to give the River Hawks a four-goal advantage at 18:52.
• With halftime on the horizon and a commanding lead, Susquehanna lost its spark and lead as the River Hawks headed into halftime down 7-6 as the Bulldogs rattled off five straight.
• Dex finished the first half with 13 saves to keep SU in the mix.
• The second period was nothing less than a back-and-forth fight with junior Nicole Hauck (Annandale, N.J./North Hunterdon), sophomore attacker Caroline Chase (Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull), Dowling, and Toohey all contributing goals, including three from Toohey. However, the second half efforts proved to be not enough as DeSales prevailed following Amanda Schultz's goal with 6:44 left in the game, giving the visitors a 13-11 lead.
• DeSales and Susquehanna each put together a pair of two-goal runs over the final 30 minutes.

 
Inside the Box Score

• Shots – SU 35, DeSales 42
• Saves – SU 20, DeSales 16
• Turnovers – SU 20, DeSales 26
• Clears – SU 21-26, DeSales 15-27
• Ground Balls – SU 19, DeSales 23
• Draw Controls – SU 11, DeSales 15
• Free-Position Shots – SU 3-7, DeSales 1-10

 
Top Performers

• Chase directed the offense all afternoon, dishing out a career-best six assists for a career-high seven points as she also scored her first collegiate goal.
• Toohey led the River Hawks offense by scoring a career-high six goals for a career-best six points while Dowling contributed three goals and an assist on the day.
• Junior midfielder Tori Lombardi (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany Hills) collected a career-best six ground balls while senior defenders Mel Barracato (Flanders, N.J./Pope John XXIII) and Caroline Ray (Portland, Maine/Cheverus) each forced two DeSales turnovers.
• Senior captain Christine Hoerman (Glenmoore, Pa./Downingtown) and K. Hoerman (4) combined for nine of the team's 11 draw controls.
• Eilis McCall led the Bulldogs with three goals and four points while Rachel Shoebrooks made 16 stops in DeSales second straight win.

 
Up Next for the River Hawks

• Feb. 25 at Immaculata (0-1) – Immaculata, Pa. / Draper Walsh Stadium – 4:00 p.m.

 
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