FROSTBURG, Md. – Junior attack Megan Hart led both teams with five points, but it wasn't enough as the Frostburg State women's lacrosse team was tripped up by Allegheny College, 10-9, in its season opener Saturday afternoon at Bobcat Stadium.
 
Neither team took larger than a three-goal lead as the contest came down to the final three minutes tied up at 9-9. However, following a Frostburg (0-1) penalty, Shelby Piper took advantage of a free-position shot to net the game-winner for Allegheny (1-1) with 2:33 to play.
 
The Bobcats had the first two goals of the game, with freshman attack Morgan Cavey finding junior midfielder Emani Byrd for the opening tally at 25:14. Less than 30 seconds later, Hart picked up her first goal on a free-position shot.
 
Goals from Jackie Morrow and Alexa Maloney then knotted the game at 2-2, but shortly after, Hart found Byrd to lift Frostburg ahead, 3-2, with just over 20 minutes before halftime.
 
Both teams played solid defense for the next 14 minutes before Hart used a Gator yellow card to her advantage and scored on an extra player opportunity.
 
Maloney brought Allegheny back within one, 4-3, on a free-position goal, but Hart tallied her third of the game with 11 seconds before the horn to push the Bobcats' lead back to two, 5-3, at halftime.
 
Cavey opened the second half with a free-position goal to surge FSU ahead with its largest lead of the game, 6-3.
 
Allegheny then used a 3-0 run with goals from Morrow and two from Piper to knot the game at 6-6 with 17:39 remaining. Hart and Byrd slipped the Bobcats ahead with back-to-back goals for an 8-6 lead, but Allegheny had four of the last five goals to tip the game in its favor for the final 10-9 victory.
 
Hart finished with four goals and one assist with three ground balls and three caused turnovers, while Byrd added a hat trick. Junior defender Alyssa Barlow picked up seven draws and four ground balls.
 
Piper led the Gators with three goals and one assist while Morrow added three goals.
 
Junior goalkeeper Dylan Teitelbaum finished with 15 saves between the pipes for the Bobcats, while her counterpart Kaelin Clogan had six for the Gators.
 
The Bobcats return to action Sunday, March 6 as they travel to Virginia Wesleyan at 1:00 pm.