KING'S POINT, N.Y. — The Cedar Crest College lacrosse team fell to the United States Merchant Marine Academy in a 20–2 loss on Saturday at Brooks Stadium. The Falcons managed two goals, with their first coming in the opening quarter.

Cedar Crest began the first quarter with possession following a draw control by senior Ellie Terranova (Wilmington, Del./Mount Pleasant). Despite early turnovers, the Falcons' defense made a significant stop with a caused turnover by first-year Kaitlyn Takacs (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom), though difficulties in maintaining possession persisted.

The Mariners capitalized on their opportunities, scoring the first two goals and extending their lead further. Cedar Crest responded with a goal by junior Kadee Schrader (Northampton, Pa./Northampton Area), assisted by first-year Audra Leiter (Vernon, N.J./Vernon Township), narrowing the gap. However, Merchant Marine's offensive momentum continued, leading to additional goals throughout the quarter.

As the quarter progressed, the Mariners increased its lead with consistent scoring, leaving the Falcons trailing. The first quarter concluded with Merchant Marine leading 10–1.

The second quarter saw the Mariners extend its lead with a series of quick goals. Junior Grace Picozzi (Collegeville, Pa.) opened the scoring with a goal at 14:22, assisted by junior Leslie Wysong (Mount Pleasant, S.C.). Despite a draw control by Terranova, Cedar Crest struggled to maintain possession, leading to another goal by sophomore Lana Hayes (Toms River, N.J.) at 12:20.

Merchant Marine continued to capitalize on the Falcons' turnovers, with Picozzi finding the net again at 10:28. sophomore Reese Ripley (Denver, Colo.) added a goal at 3:09, extending the lead. Cedar Crest's attempts to respond were thwarted by the Mariners' defense, which held strong through the quarter.

A player-up goal by first-year Sarah Litz (Westminster, Md.) at 1:20 closed the quarter's scoring, with Merchant Marine leading 15–1. The Falcons closed the quarter with a turnover caused by first-year Trinity Burk (Baltimore, Md./Patapsco High School & Center for the Arts) but was unable to convert before time expired.

The third quarter began with Cedar Crest looking to gain momentum but faced challenges in maintaining possession. Senior Olivia Moyer (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Walter Panas) secured a ground ball early on, but subsequent turnovers hindered the team's progress. Defensive efforts by sophomore Izzy Feddor (Northampton, Pa./Northampton Area) highlighted the quarter with notable saves, though the Mariners capitalized with three goals, extending its lead.

The Falcons managed a successful clear after a timeout late in the quarter, illustrating resilience. However, Merchant Marine's consistent offensive pressure resulted in another goal in the closing seconds. The quarter concluded with Cedar Crest trailing 18–1.

The Falcons faced a challenging fourth quarter against Merchant Marine. The home team extended its lead with an early goal by Picozzi, assisted by senior Nicole Nagengast (Seaford, N.Y.). Cedar Crest's defensive efforts were highlighted by a key save from Feddor and a caused turnover by Leiter, which briefly shifted possession.

Despite repeated attempts to clear the ball, the Falcons struggled with turnovers, allowing the Mariners to capitalize with another goal by Picozzi. Cedar Crest responded with a successful clear and a goal from Terranova, narrowing the deficit.

As the quarter closed, the Falcons maintained defensive pressure with multiple saves from Feddor. However, Merchant Marine's control at the draw continued to limit the Falcons' opportunities. The quarter ended with Cedar Crest trailing 20–2.

The Falcons' Leiter contributed to the offense with one assist and one shot on goal. Terranova made an impact by scoring one goal on her only shot, which was also on target. Schrader added to the team's efforts with one goal from her single shot on goal. In the net, Feddor recorded nine saves out of 34 shots faced.

First year Isabelle Perry (Atlanta, Ga.) emerged as a key offensive player for Merchant Marine, leading with three goals and five assists, including a game-winning goal. Wysong contributed significantly with four goals and four assists, achieving a perfect free-position shot record. Picozzi excelled with a team-high five goals and added four assists to her performance. Hayes and Litz each added two goals, with Litz marking one of her goals as a player-up goal, highlighting her versatility on the field.

Looking ahead, Cedar Crest (5-3 overall) will host Eastern University on Wednesday, March 25 at 6:00 p.m. United States Merchant Marine Academy (2-3 overall) will be on the road to face Farmingdale State on Saturday, March 28 at 12:00 p.m.