NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Women's lacrosse (0-2) battled Yale (1-0) Saturday afternoon and, despite a number of comeback attempts, fell 16-12. Multiple Explorers finished with multi-goal games, including hattricks from junior Annina Iacobucci and freshman Madi McKee.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Blue & Gold found itself in an upward battle early on. The Bulldogs started out on fire, opening up a 5-0 lead. Despite goals from Iacobucci and classmate Allison Hunter in the half, Yale maintained a five-score advantage by heading into the break up 8-3.
• Goals from senior Gabby Burton and junior Emily Johnston to open the second closed the deficit to three. This was a common theme in the latter half. Yale expanded its advantage to five, goals from McKee and Johnston returned it to three, before a three-goal run from the Bulldogs pushed their lead to the widest margin at 13-7.
• The Explorers struck for three unanswered in response, making it a three-score game again. The hosts answered with two goals to push it back to 15-10. La Salle would tally two of the next three but couldn't stage enough of a comeback in the final eight minutes,

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• After falling behind early,  La Salle clawed its way back within three on three occasions, all within the second half. Yale held a five-point advantage eight times.

• Five Explorers finished with double-digit scores in the game, highlighted by McKee's first collegiate hattrick. 
• Iacoubucci and McKee added an assist each to pace the Blue & Gold with four points. Johnston, Hunter and Burton all finished with two goals each.
• Johnston also led the team in draw controls (six) and ground balls (three), while McKee was second in draw controls with three.
• Despite a quiet game in the goals department, junior Bridget Ruskey assisted on three scores.
• Sophomore Kelli Kazmarek finished the game with 11 saves on 27 shots.

UP NEXT

• The Explorers continue their road trip with a contest at Bucknell on Saturday. First draw is at 3 p.m.