The Gannon women's lacrosse team started strong but ultimately lost 14-5 to No. 17 Slippery Rock on Saturday afternoon in PSAC West play.

Charlie Hunter (Boston, N.Y./Hamburg) got the Golden Knights on the board early with a first-quarter goal, and Gannon kept pace through the first half thanks to a pair of second-quarter scores from Rayla Smith (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum) and Caroline Stevens (Syracuse, N.Y./Liverpool). Stevens struck again in the third, this time on a man-up opportunity, and later assisted on Hunter's second goal of the day to bring Gannon within three.

Despite the offensive push, Gannon was held scoreless in the fourth quarter. Haleigh Manning (Milton, Ga./Cambridge) turned in a career performance between the pipes, recording 20 saves on 34 shots on goal to keep the Golden Knights in the contest.

Stevens finished with two goals, one assist, and a game-high eight draw controls. Gannon also held a 15-8 edge in draw controls but struggled to convert possessions into scoring chances, totaling just 12 shots and going 7-for-22 on clear attempts.

Up next
Gannon will travel to IUP on Wednesday, April 16, for a 3:00 p.m. PSAC West matchup at George P. Miller Stadium.