READING, Pa. – The Albright women's lacrosse team dropped a hard-fought 13-10 battle to an unbeaten Stevens team in non-conference action on Friday evening to open up their home schedule at Shirk Stadium.
 
With the loss, the Lions drop to 1-3 overall. Meanwhile, the Ducks have yet to see a loss as they advance to 5-0 overall.
 
Senior Lauren China led the Lions with six points behind a season-high five goals and one assist. Senior Ashleigh Tortorice added a hat trick with three goals on five shots. Senior Lexi Pitkevits totaled a game-high three caused turnovers and three ground balls.
 
Stevens opened up the game with a quick goal just 28 seconds into action to take the early lead. China found the back of the net off a free-position shot to get Albright on the board and tie the game at one at the 11:51-mark. The Ducks answered just over a minute later to put them back in front. Hai notched an unassisted goal at the 9:57-mark to tie the game at two. The Lions began to control the pace, tallying three more unanswered goals to take a 6-3 lead at the 1:38-mark. Stevens added one more in the final minute of the first quarter to cut their deficit to 6-4.
 
The Ducks began to find their footing in the second stanza, opening the quarter with four unanswered goal to grasp a 7-6 lead at the 6:03-mark. Tortorice netted her second goal at the 5:22-mark to even the score at seven. Stevens found the back of the net to take the lead again, but China had the final word of the half scoring with only three second remaining in the half to tie the game at eight entering the break.
 
China kept her foot on the gas with the opening goal of the second half off a free-position shot to give the Lions a 9-8 lead. Stevens notched three-straight goals to claim an 11-9 lead at the 1:31-mark. Tortorice added one more in the final 13 seconds of the third quarter to cut the Lions deficit to 11-10 heading into the final stanza.
 
Both teams battled hard in the fourth quarter, but the Ducks took a 12-10 advantage following a woman-up opportunity on a free-position goal. The Lions continued their fight forcing five fourth quarter turnovers by Stevens and connecting two solid shots on goal, but the Ducks added one final goal at the 4:05-mark to solidify their 13-10 non-conference win.
 
Despite the loss, the Lions held a 29-19 shot advantage over the Ducks and connected 23 shots on goal. Albright also forced Stevens into 17 turnovers, earned 11 free-position shots, and held a slight 11-10 ground ball advantage. Stevens won the battle in the draw circle 14-13. Lauren Cunniff earns the win in net for the Ducks with big 13 saves in 60 minutes of action. Sophomore goalkeeper Jessica Sedor receives the loss for the Lions with three saves in the full amount of action.
 
Albright will return to action on Tuesday as they travel to Clearwater, Fla. and open up their spring break trip against Meredith at 10 a.m.