CLEARWATER, Fla. – Despite a late rally, the Albright women's lacrosse team dropped a 19-12 matchup to Meredith to open their Spring Break trip in Clearwater, Fla. on Tuesday.
 
With the loss, the Lions fall to 1-4 overall. Meanwhile, the Angels improve to 3-2.
 
Sophomore Katelyn Patrick and senior Ashleigh Tortorice each posted a hat-trick on the afternoon to pace the Lions offense. Sophomore Kayte Moist tallied three points behind two goals and one assist while senior Lauren China added two goals and one assist for three points. Junior Chloe Fornoff grabbed a team-high six draw controls while sophomore Kyra Lycett grabbed a game-high four ground balls.
 
Meredith opened up the scoring at the 10:38-mark with a woman-up goal from the eight meter. The Angels followed with two more goals to take an early 3-0 lead in the opening frame. Tortorice got the Lions on the board at the 5:40-mark with an unassisted goal to get Albright within two. Meredith closed out the first quarter with a goal at the 2:58-mark to hold a 4-1 lead.
 
The Angels extended their lead to four with the opening goal of the second stanza at the 12:45-mark. China answered less than a minute later with an unassisted goal to cut the Lions deficit to 5-2. Meredith began to control the pace throughout the frame, tallying four unanswered goals to take a commanding 9-2 lead. Sister duo Kayte Moist and Abbie Moist each found the back of the net to close out the half and cut the Lions deficit to 9-5 entering the break.
 
Meredith kept their momentum from the first half and scored back-to-back goals to open the third quarter to take a seven-goal advantage. Tortorice found the back of the net for the Lions at the 6:30-mark off a feed from Kayte Moist, but the Angels answered with a woman-down goal to stay in front 12-5. China notched a free-position goal at the 4:24-mark to which Meredith responded with two more goals to cap off the third quarter with a 14-6 lead.
 
The Angels opened the final frame with back-to-back goals yet again to take their largest lead at ten with 10:53 remaining. Patrick responded with consecutive goals of her own to cut the Lions deficit to 16-8 and force a Meredith timeout. The two teams traded goals, but the Lions finally found their footing as they went on a 3-0 run, seeing goals from Tortorice, Patrick, and Fornoff to get Albright within reach at 12-8 and 2:17 remaining. However, the Lions late run would not be enough as the Angels notched the final goal of the game at the 1:54-mark to  solidify their 19-12 victory.
 
Meredith held a slight 29-27 shot advantage and a 26-21 shots on goal advantage over Albright. The Lions won the battle in the draw circle 18-15 and held an 18-11 ground ball advantage. First-year goalkeeper Caelainn Morrison received the loss for the Lions after starting and making five saves in 39:39 minutes of action. Madeline Horrell earned the win for the Angels with four saves in 30 minutes of play.
 
Albright returns to action tomorrow at 10 a.m. against Clarkson to conclude their Spring Break trip.