PURCHASE, N.Y. – The Cedar Crest College lacrosse team was edged by Purchase College, 8-6, in a non-league tilt on Friday night.

The Falcons outscored the Panthers, 2-1, in the first 15 minutes. Senior Michelle Gomez (Oceanside, N.Y.) started the scoring for Purchase with a marker with 3:33 to play in the opening frame. The assist went to Brienne Westfall. Cedar Crest answered with a pair of goals separated by 25 seconds. First-year Brooke Holley (Elkton, Md./Elkton) got the initial tally and sophomore Maddie Graham (Clayton, Del./Smyrna) found the back of the net at the 2:52 mark.

The Falcons padded its advantage in the next frame on the second goal of the day by Holley with 13:14 to play to push the lead to 3-1. The Panthers then responded with two-straight tallies. First-year Julieth Velasquez (White Plains, N.Y.) scored an unassisted goal while Westfall set up junior Alyssa Kozak (East Meadow, N.Y.) for the equalizer with 10:23 to go to knot the game at three. The score would hold as the game went into the second half.

Purchase put a goal home at the 13:06 mark of the third quarter, which was scored by Gomez and assisted by Westfall. The Falcons then went on a 3-0 run to grab a 6-4 advantage. Sophomore Abi Sipel (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) netted the first on the run, which was followed by back-to-back markers from Graham. The Panthers cut the deficit to one (6-5) with 2:32 remaining in the frame on a goal from Westfall.

Purchase then registered three goals in the final stanza, which began with a Kozak goal at the 10:12 mark to tie the game at six. The Panthers jumped in front with 7:32 left on a marker by Westfall and assisted by sophomore Analie Ingalsbe (West Hurley, N.Y.). The home team then added an insurance goal with 40 seconds left on a strike by Kozak for the 8-6 final.

Senior Casandra Schmoger (Islip, N.Y.) made 22 saves in goal for Purchase. Junior Mira Carver (Lebanon, N.J./North Hunterdon) converted six stops in the loss for Cedar Crest.

The Falcons recorded 48 ground balls in the loss. Sipel matched a game-high with eight. Sophomore Lauren Jackson (Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon) tallied six while first-year Kylah Demarest (Vernon, N.J./Vernon Township) and senior Emily Schoelier (Newton, N.J./Sussex County Technical) each finished with five. Holley, Graham, junior Adriana Hinkle (Palmerton, Pa./Homeschooled (played for Lehighton)), and junior Kayleigh Woomer (Gales Ferry, Conn./Ledyard) registered four each. Sophomore Ashley Large (Parker, Colo./Regis Jesuit) continued the category with three while Carver and sophomore Rachel Bilger (Philadelphia, Pa./Upper Dublin) had two each. First-year Adriana Dias (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) rounded out the category with one ground ball.

Cedar Crest also had 19 caused turnovers in the contest. Sipel had a team-high five, followed by Bilger with four and Large with three. Holley finished with a pair while Graham, Jackson, Hinkle, Dias, and senior Abbey Mower (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional) tallied one each.

The Falcons registered 11 draw controls in the game. Woomer led the team with five, followed by Graham with four and Demarest with two.

Cedar Crest (0-2 overall) will host Centenary University (N.J.) on Wednesday, March 29 at 6:00 p.m. for its next game. Purchase (2-2 overall) will next play on Tuesday, March 28 at Mitchell College in a 4:00 p.m. start.