ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Cedar Crest College lacrosse team used a three-goal fourth quarter to rally for an 8-7 victory over Notre Dame of Maryland University in a United East Conference tilt at the FalconPlex on Saturday afternoon on Senior Day.

The program honored its three seniors Krystal Sears (Manchester, N.J./Manchester Township), Adriana Hinkle (Palmerton, Pa./Homeschooled (played for Lehighton)), and Kayleigh Woomer (Gales Ferry, Conn./Ledyard) in a special pregame ceremony.

The teams traded goals in a low scoring first quarter. Sophomore Kylah Demarest (Vernon, N.J./Vernon Township) found the back of the net just past a minute and a half into the game while junior Sarah Generoso (Catonsville, Md.) set up first-year Cailyn Motta (Annapolis, Md.) for the Gators' opening marker with 4:39 on the clock.

Demarest put the Falcons back in front with her second tally of the contest, which came at the 8:45 mark. NDMU closed the frame with two straight goals with one from senior Emma Alascia (Westminster, Md.) and the other from Motta as the visitors led 3-2 at the half.

The third quarter featured seven total goals. Motta capped her hat trick 1:40 into the third stanza after she netted a goal off a pass from junior Jade Stewart (Hagerstown, Md.). Stewart then got in on the action with her first of the game to extend its margin to three, 5-2, with 11:56 to play. The Falcons answered back with a pair of goals, one coming from first-year Kadee Schrader (Northampton, Pa./Northampton Area) and and the other from the stick of Brynn Rifino (Dover, Del./Smyrna). Alascia and Motta registered back-to-back markers and then Graham deposited her first of four straight goals to conclude the game.

Graham netted the three goals in the fourth quarter as Cedar Crest hung on for the 8-7 triumph. The eventual game-winner came with 3:58 left in regulation.

Woomer collected a season-high 18 saves in the win for the Falcons. She also had two ground balls and two caused turnovers.  

First-year Leah Hasberry (San Antonio, Texas) made nine saves in the setback for the Gators.

Graham finished with four goals, three ground balls, two draw controls, and one caused turnover. Demarest followed with four points on two goals, two assists, three ground balls, and two draw controls. Schrader recorded two points on a goal and one assist while also collecting two ground balls. Hinkle had one assist and two ground balls. Rifino tallied one goal. Sears registered one caused turnover. Sophomore Ellie Terranova (Wilmington, Del./Mount Pleasant) recorded one ground ball. Junior Ashley Large (Parker, Colo./Regis Jesuit) collected three ground balls and one caused turnover. Junior Abi Sipel (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) concluded the contest with three ground balls and one caused turnover, while junior Rachel Bilger (Philadelphia, Pa./Upper Dublin) scooped up a game-high eight ground balls and also had one caused turnover.

Cedar Crest (6-3 overall, 2-1 United East) will hit the road for two straight games, the first being on Thursday, April 18 at the College at Old Westbury at 4:00 p.m. Notre Dame (2-7 overall, 0-2 United East) finishes its regular season at home against Bryn Athyn College on Saturday, April 20 at 1:00 p.m.

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