The Gannon women's lacrosse team struggled to find momentum in a tough 15-8 road loss to Ashland. Despite flashes of strong offensive play, turnovers and ground ball battles proved to be deciding factors in the outcome.

Charlie Hunter (Boston, N.Y./Hamburg) led the Knights' attack with a hat trick, scoring three goals, including one off a feed from Megan Lang (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy). Ella Todd (Maple Ridge, British Columbia/Maple Ridge Secondary) contributed with two goals and an assist, while Alyssa Lerch (Coraopolis, Pa./Moon Area) also found the back of the net twice. Caroline Stevens (Syracuse, N.Y./Liverpool) rounded out the scoring with one goal.

Gannon found itself playing from behind early, as the Eagles opened the game with a dominant 4-0 run in the first quarter. The Golden Knights finally got on the board when Alyssa Lerch (Coraopolis, Pa./Moon Area) scored at the 6:33 mark, followed by a late goal from Charlie Hunter (Boston, N.Y./Hamburg) to make it 4-2 after one.
 
Ashland responded with another run in the second quarter, scoring four of the next five goals to take an 8-3 lead into halftime. Gannon's only goal in the period came from Ella Todd (Maple Ridge, British Columbia/Maple Ridge Secondary) on a free-position shot, but turnovers and missed opportunities kept the Golden Knights from gaining ground.

Gannon showed some life in the third quarter when Hunter and Stevens struck early to cut the deficit to five. Lerch added another goal, but Ashland had an answer each time, keeping the Golden Knights at arm's length.

Hunter completed her hat trick in the fourth, and Todd added her second goal of the night, but it wasn't enough to stop Ashland's final surge.
 
The Golden Knights will be back in action on Saturday, March 22, when they open PSAC play against No. 14/21 Slippery Rock. The opening draw is set for 1:00 PM inside McConnell Family Stadium.