ADRIAN, Mich. - The Adrian College women's lacrosse team rallied in the second half, but fell just short in a 19-15 loss to St. Mary's on "Senior Day." Emily Smith was the leading scorer for the Bulldogs with four goals.

THE BASICS

Final Score: St. Mary's 19, Adrian 15

Location: Adrian, Michigan (Docking Stadium)

Records: St. Mary's (10-6, 7-1 MIAA), Adrian (5-9, 4-4 MIAA)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Ava Cares and Annika Nuler scored in the opening five minutes of the game to give Adrian a quick 2-0 lead.

• St. Mary's responded by scoring 12 of the next 16 goals in the half to take a 12-6 lead into the locker room at the intermission.

• Annie Rice, Alex Branum, Cares (2), and Nuler (2) were the Bulldog goal scorers in the first half.

•  The Belles scored the first two goals of the second half, increasing the lead to 14-6, the largest lead of the game.

• Adrian scored six of the next seven goals, trimming the St. Mary's lead to just three, 15-12.

• The teams would trade goals for the remainder of the half as the Belles were able to hold off the Bulldogs, 19-15.

TOP DOGS

• Smith scored four goals to lead Adrian's offense in the losing effort.

• Rice and Nuler each tallied a hat trick in the game. Rice also dished two assists, scooped up two ground balls and caused two turnovers.

• Nuler added four ground balls, two draw controls, and two caused turnovers to her stat line.

• Cares scored twice and led the Bulldogs with five draw controls.

• Mariesa Johnson contributed two goals and an assist.

• Branum scored once and tallied a ground ball and one caused turnover.

THE OPPOSITION

• Mary Singler scored a game-high five goals. She also recorded six ground balls and two caused turnovers.

• Kate Kelly scored three times and had one assist. She tied Singler for the game-high six ground balls while also hauling in six draw controls.

• Kendra Osinski scored four times for the Belles.

• Clare Theisen scored twice, led all players with four assists and nine draw controls.

MIAA STANDINGS

• The Bulldogs finish the season in a three-way tie with Albion and Kalamazoo for the fourth spot in the league standings. 

• Per the league rules, the tiebreaker would eliminate Adrian from the MIAA tournament due to the Bulldogs having the lowest goal differential of the three squads.

• St. Mary's secured the second spot in the standings with the win and will host Hope in the semifinal round of the MIAA tournament; Calvin will host Albion.