SHEPHERDSTOWN, W. Va. – The Frostburg State Women's Lacrosse team lost a back-and-forth battle 12-10 to Shepherd on the road Saturday afternoon.
 
The Bobcats started out the better of the two sides, hitting the post and forcing a pair of saves inside the first five minutes before freshman Neila Haney finally found the back of the net for a 1-0 lead. Sophomore Julia Badolato doubled the lead just a couple minutes later, converting on a free position with the team a player down. The Rams finally got on the board with their first effort on goal just 20 seconds later, capitalizing on their man-up opportunity. This time it was SU's turn to have a dominant period, holding Frostburg without a shot the rest of the quarter and tying the game at 2-2 with 30 seconds left in the first.
 
FSU quickly regained the lead a minute into the second period, as sophomore goalkeeper Nicole Gray made a key save, from which junior Camden DeMaio scored at the other end of the field. Shepherd responded on a free position goal within two minutes, but the Bobcats got momentum back on their side with goals from freshman Dahlia Trippel and senior Lilly Stephens for a 5-3 lead. Both goalkeepers traded saves over the next five minutes, before the Rams finally broke the deadlock with a score at the 5:36 mark. Sophomore Brittyn Leonard hit back with her first goal of the season, but SU kicked into another gear, scoring four goals in the next two and a half minutes to take an 8-6 lead into the half.
 
Frostburg got on the board first again in the third quarter, with Trippel scoring her second of the day, but again Shepherd responded in quick fashion on a free position to maintain their two-goal lead. A fine save by SU's goalkeeper turned into fast offense, with the Rams making it two straight goals for a 10-7 lead. Both defenses locked in, holding each other scoreless for the final eight minutes, setting up the final frame.
 
Badolato got the fourth started with a man-up goal on a feed from sophomore Krissy Milburn just two minutes in. Gray made another outstanding save on the 10-minute mark, setting the stage for Trippel and freshman Emily Lamoreaux to get quick-fire back-to-back goals and tie the game at 10-10 with just under nine minutes remaining. Shepherd finally broke their scoreless streak with a goal at 6:52, taking a one-goal advantage. FSU saw their potential game-tying shot saved just inside of four minutes, with SU going down the field and scoring with a minute and a half remaining, ending the Bobcat comeback to secure their 12-10 victory.
 
Trippel led the attack with three goals, as Haney added a goal and an assist to go with a game-high six draw controls.
 
With the loss, Frostburg falls to 1-4, while Shepherd improves to 4-4 on the year. The Bobcats begin their Spring Break trip next Tuesday, March 21 as they travel to Tampa for a game set to begin at 6 p.m. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.