CHICAGO, Ill. — The No. 8 Denison women's lacrosse battled hard on Saturday afternoon at Stagg Field but came up just short in an 18–15 loss to No. 22 University of Chicago.
The Big Red opened the game strong, with Finlay Harmon striking first and adding a second goal later in the opening quarter. Sophie Davenport and Addie Clift also found the net, helping Denison keep pace with Chicago through the first 15 minutes to put the score tied at 4-4 after the first.
Early in the second quarter, Grayson O'Marra and Harmon tallied consecutive goals to put Denison ahead 6–4, but Chicago responded with a five-goal run. Sydney Lavin added a late score for Denison, leaving the team trailing 9–7 at halftime.
Mary Martinson, Bridget Sheehy, and MK Barnhart each added goals in the third quarter 14-10, keeping the Big Red within striking distance heading into the fourth. Denison mounted a late rally in the final frame as Harmon, O'Marra, Barnhart, Sheehy, and Martinson all scored, cutting the deficit to three before time expired.
Harmon led Denison with four goals, while Sheehy, Barnhart, Martinson, and O'Marra each contributed two. Davenport, Clift, and Lavin also scored for the Big Red.
Denison finished with 27 shots, including 16 on goal, and collected 18 ground balls while converting three of four free-position opportunities. The team moves to 3–1 on the season.
