The 17th ranked University of Mary Washington women's lacrosse team overcame an early deficit to take the lead to halftime, but ultimately fell to fifth-ranked Salisbury University, 12-8, on Saturday at the Battleground. The Eagles fall to 9-2 overall.

After the Sea Gulls scored the first goal of the contest, UMW's Mackenzie Maguire scored unassisted with 21:55 left in the first half to knot the score. From there, the Sea Gulls would score three straight goals to take a 4-1 lead.

The Eagles responded to the run, as sophomore Holly Hudson scored with 10:30 left on a free position shot, and freshman Hope Lockwood scored less than a minute later on an Emily Mott assist. Mott scored  with 6:44 left to tie the score, and senior Ashlyn Dacey put the Eagles ahead, 5-4, with 4:48 remaining in the half.

After the Sea Gulls tied the score with two minutes remaining, the Eagles grabbed the lead and momentum into halftime, as Maguire scored with just five seconds left in the half.

The Sea Gull offense awoke in the second half, scoring six straight goals to take an 11-6 lead over the first 20 minutes of action in the second. The Eagles cut the deficit to 11-7 on a Maguire score with 10:25 left, and cut the margin to three at 11-8 on a Hudson score with 7:25 to play. Salisbury scored in the final minute for the 12-8 victory.

The Sea Gulls led in shots, 21-16, and committed six turnovers to 13 for the Eagles. Freshman goalie Hannah Ashby had six saves in net for UMW, while Gianna Falcone had four stops for Salisbury.

Maguire had three goals and Hudson two for the Eagles, who will return to action on Wednesday night when they host Wesley College at 7:00 p.m. on the campus recreation turf field.