GRANVILLE, Ohio (April 1, 2023) – Playing in its final game before the start of North Coast Athletic Conference action, the Denison University women's lacrosse team came up short against the University of Mary Washington, 14-9, on Saturday inside Deeds Field-Piper Stadium. It was the first home game for the Big Red since March 5.

Denison got on the board first as Josie Lucchesi scored the first goal of the game on a free position attempt just over four minutes in, but Mary Washington was then the beneficiary of three straight goals by Maya Koebke.

Anna DeVuono scored as the clock ran out at the end of the first quarter to make it a one-goal margin at 3-2, and then in the second quarter, back-to-back goals on free position shots by Jane Lukens and Allaire Kotz tied it at 4-4 with just over six and a half minutes left until halftime.

However, after a nearly hour-long weather delay with UMW leading by one (5-4) with 1:50 left in the first half, the Eagles immediately came out of the break with a free position goal and then added another goal with just 22 seconds left in the half to take a 7-4 lead into the intermission.

UMW was able to build its lead in the first half in large part to seven saves from goalkeeper Cailyn Tripp.

Kotz scored the first goal of the second half just over 30 seconds in to try and get Denison back into it down 7-5, but five straight goals for the Eagles between the third and four quarter made it 12-5 and put the game out of reach.

Kotz would finish with three goals for the Big Red while Lucchesi scored twice.

Mary Daniel and Kate Coward both finished with a pair of caused turnovers while Daniel matched goalkeeper Caroline O'Dea (10 saves) with three groundballs.

Both Merrill Rollhaus and Grayson O'Marra recorded three draw controls as well.

Denison fell to 2-8 overall on the season and is 0-4 all-time against Mary Washington (8-5). The last meeting between the two teams before Saturday was a 12-8 loss for the Big Red in the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament.

Next up for Denison will be its Senior Day and NCAC opener against Wittenberg University. The Big Red and the Tigers will square off starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April. 8, as Denison looks to get back on track during conference play.