ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The Cedar Crest College lacrosse team fell to Goucher College 20-5 on Saturday afternoon at the FalconPlex..

The Falcons began the first quarter with a successful draw control by first-year Taylor Dotter (Northampton, Pa./Northampton Area). However, despite early possession, Cedar Crest encountered several turnovers, allowing the Gophers to capitalize. Goucher junior Emma Nelson (Stillwater, Minn.) scored twice, one assisted by junior Wrenn Harney (Lexington Park, Md.), establishing an early lead.

Midway through the stanza, Goucher extended its lead with goals by junior Camden West (Hampton, Va.) and junior Imani Ward (Catonsville, Md.). Cedar Crest's defense, led by sophomore Izzy Feddor's (Northampton, Pa./Northampton Area) saves, managed to hold off further scoring attempts.

The Falcons found momentum late in the quarter when first-year Trinity Burk (Baltimore, Md./Patapsco High School & Center for the Arts) scored off an assist from junior Kadee Schrader (Northampton, Pa./Northampton Area), cutting into the Gophers' lead. The frame closed with Goucher leading 4-1.

Cedar Crest began the second quarter with defensive resilience as Feddor made a crucial save against a shot from Gophers' junior Katie Bloom (Warrenton, Va.). Senior Kylah Demarest (Vernon, N.J./Vernon Township) opened the scoring with a goal assisted by Schrader at 9:31, briefly reducing the deficit. However, Goucher quickly responded with a pair of goals, regaining momentum and extending its lead.

The Falcons fought back as Dotter found the back of the net off an assist from senior Ellie Terranova (Wilmington, Del./Mount Pleasant) with 1:25 remaining, cutting into Goucher's lead. Despite the effort, the Gophers managed to capitalize on a woman-up situation, scoring just before the end of the quarter at 00:09. The quarter concluded with Cedar Crest trailing Goucher 8-3.

The Falcons began the third quarter with a draw control by Terranova, but momentum shifted as the Gophers quickly capitalized on a turnover to score. Cedar Crest responded with Demarest's woman-up goal, assisted by Schrader, narrowing the gap. However, Goucher continued to press forward, extending its lead with several goals throughout the period.

Despite the Falcons' efforts, including a goal by first-year Audra Leiter (Vernon, N.J./Vernon Township) assisted by Dotter, the Gophers' consistent scoring runs kept the pressure high. As the quarter closed, Goucher maintained a commanding lead, ending the third with a score of 17-5.

The fourth quarter began with Cedar Crest trying to regain momentum, but an early turnover allowed the Gophers to capitalize. Despite a solid defensive effort by Leiter, which led to a Goucher turnover, the Falcons struggled with possession. Bloom scored the first goal of the quarter, extending their lead.

Cedar Crest's Terranova secured a crucial draw control following the goal, but turnovers continued to hamper the offensive effort. The Gophers added two more goals, with first-year Dayana Flores Bermudez (Gaithersburg, Md.) and senior Amaya Locke (Bowie, Md.) contributing to their tally. Despite several ground ball pickups by the Falcons, including efforts from first-year Morgan Kreibick (Philadelphia, Pa./Franklin Towne Charter) and Terranova, the team could not convert opportunities into scores.

The quarter closed with Cedar Crest unable to find the net, while Goucher maintained control, concluding the game with a final score of 20-5 in favor of the visitors.

Demarest led the scoring effort with two goals from five shots, four of which were on target, and added a power-play goal for the Falcons. Schrader contributed significantly to the offense by tallying three assists, setting up key scoring opportunities. Dotter also had a productive game, recording one goal and one assist on two shots. In goal, Feddor made nine saves on 33 shots faced, providing a solid last line of defense.

Nelson guided Goucher with four goals and added an assist, showcasing her scoring efficiency with five shots and four on goal. Bloom matched Nelson's goal total, netting four goals on six shots, all of which were on target, and contributed two power-play goals. Locke delivered a strong performance with three goals and an assist, achieving a perfect shooting accuracy with all three of her shots on goal resulting in scores. Junior Tatiana Emeruwa (Greenbelt, Md.) contributed a game-winning goal along with two assists, playing a pivotal role in securing victories for her team.

Cedar Crest (1-1 overall) now heads to Randolph College on Thursday, March 5 at 4:00 p.m. Goucher College (1-1 overall) next hosts Wilson College on Monday, March 2 at 7:00 p.m.