READING, Pa. – Senior
Meghan Wilson scored three goals on Senior Day, but Albright lost to Lebanon Valley 15-9 in a Commonwealth Conference game on Wednesday at John Gurski Stadium.
Albright overcame an early 2-0 deficit and held a 6-5 lead at the intermission, but Lebanon Valley outscored the Lions 10-3 in the second period to claim the victory.
Despite the loss, Albright remains firmly in the hunt for the final spot in the Commonwealth Tournament. The top four seeds have been secured, but the final spot in the postseason is up for grabs between Albright, Widener, Lycoming and Alvernia.
Widener currently occupies the fifth, and final spot the Commonwealth Tournament, but visits second-seed Stevenson in its final game on Saturday. Albright will travel to Hood and Lycoming visits Alvernia on the final weekend.
An Albright victory over Hood coupled with a Widener loss to Stevenson and a Lycoming loss to Alvernia would send the Lions to the postseason due to defeating both Widener and Alvernia during the regular season.
Albright (8-7, 2-5 Commonwealth) played the first half looking like a team trying to avoid needing any help to get into the postseason.
Lebanon Valley (10-6, 6-2) opened the game by scoring the first two goals to take a 2-0 lead with 25:59 to play.
Albright then stormed back kick started by a free-position goal by
Erin Farrell that cut the Dutchmen lead to 2-1 with 24:34 to play in the first period.
Wilson tied the game at 2-2 with an unassisted goal at the 23:58 mark of the first period.
Mariah Cullen put Albright ahead at 3-2 with the first of her two goals with 22:30 to play in the opening period.
Jacqui Montague increased the Albright lead to 4-2 on a goal off a feed from Cullen with 21:42 before halftime.
Tori Kuntz trimmed the lead to 4-3, but back-to-back goals by
Sydney Nankervis gave Albright a 6-3 lead with 7:50 left in the first period.
Kuntz and Emma Jones scored for Lebanon Valley to cut the Albright lead to 6-5 at the break.
Jones scored two goals as Lebanon Valley opened the second period on a 5-0 run that gave the Dutchmen a 10-6 lead with 16:28 to play.
Cullen countered with a free-position goal for Albright at the 15:04 mark, which cut the LVC lead to 10-7.
Kuntz then scored two goals during a 3-0 run that pushed the Lebanon Valley lead to 13-7 with 8:39 remaining in the game.
Wilson tallied back-to-back goals to bring Albright to within 13-9 with 4:15 left, but Lebanon Valley tacked on two goals in the final 12 seconds of regulation to clinch the victory.
Emily Hutson played all 60 minutes in goal for the Lions and turned aside nine shots, while Shelby Morris picked up the win in net for the Dutchmen.
The game marked the final regular season home appearance for Wilson and fellow seniors
Kelsea Guckin and
Sarah Nale. This marked the first senior class in Albright women's lacrosse history as the program is in it's fourth year of existence.
Albright will conclude the regular season on Saturday (April 25) when it visits Hood for a 1 p.m. game.