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WORCESTER, Mass. – Trailing by six goals with under 12 minutes left, the No. 21 Merrimack College women's lacrosse program nearly rallied all the way back, getting to within a goal with 21 seconds left getting the final possession to try and tie it, but 18^th-ranked Assumption staved off the late charge and edged the Warriors by a 14-13 margin on Saturday at Multi-Sport Stadium.

Finishing the regular season at 8-5 in the conference standings, the Warriors earn the No. 7 seed in the upcoming Northeast-10 Conference Championship and will travel to second-seeded Adelphi for Wednesday's quarterfinal round.

Despite the loss, two Warriors hit major milestones: sophomore Haley Bartlett recorded her 100^th career goals as part of a career-high eight-point outing (7g, 1a), while junior Ally DaCosta – one game after setting the new single-game scoring record – notched her 100^th career assist as part of a six-point afternoon (1g, 5a). Additionally, senior Amber Feminella put a bow on another incredible regular season with seven points (3g, 4a).

The Basics
Score: Assumption 14, Merrimack 13
Records: #21 Merrimack (8-7, 8-4 NE10) | #18 Assumption (12-4, 8-4 NE10)
Location: Multi-Sport Stadium | Worcester, Mass.
Duration: 2:20
Attendance: 245

How It Happened

• Bartlett opened the scoring 24 seconds into the game before Assumption used five straight markers to build a four-goal lead.
• Feminella cut into that deficit but was answered by back-to-back Greyhound strikes, giving the home side a five-goal lead, which would stand as their largest of the half.
• After each team traded tallies, Merrimack would mount its comeback by scoring five of the next six goals to get within a goal at 9-8 with less than two minutes to play in the half. Feminella, sophomore Vicki Palmer and DaCosta scored three in a row before Bartlett went back-to-back, but Assumption netted one last goal with 22 seconds left to give the Greyhounds a 10-8 lead at the halfway point.
• Assumption would build its lead to six with the first four goals of the second half, taking a commanding 14-8 advantage with 11:31 left.
• But the Warriors wouldn't go quietly starting with Bartlett's fourth of the day off a feed from Feminella at 8:11. Then, four minutes later, it was Feminella cashing in with the Warriors up a player on a DaCosta pass.
• Down by four, Bartlett would go back-to-back to put the pressure on, scoring an unassisted marker with 3:35 left and then converting another DaCosta helper at the 2:15 mark. Then, with 21 seconds left, it was Feminella setting up Bartlett to get the Warriors within one.
• Merrimack controlled the final draw control of the game and had an opportunity to tie it, but the last shot attempt missed wide as Assumption barely held on for the win.

Notes & Numbers

• Bartlett's eight points topped her previous single-game high of seven points, while her seven goals were also one more than her prior single-game high water mark.
• Feminella was next on the scoresheet with seven points (3g, 4a) followed by DaCosta's six points (1g, 5a). After that, sophomore Meghan Dzialo and Palmer were the only other two Warriors with a point/goal.
• Feminella also set a new career-high with 10 draw controls, while senior Delaney Brandon had two draw controls to lead the Warriors.
• Senior Lauren Trepaney finished with 13 saves on 27 tries, just under a 50-percent clip.
• Merrimack saw its all-time mark against Assumption move to 14-8 after Saturday.
• Shots: 30-33 (25-27 SOG)
• FPG: 0-7 // 3-5
• Draw Controls: 17-12 Ground Balls: 16-19
• Turnovers: 18-19 (9-11 CT) // Clears: 14-23 // 17-21

Up Next
Merrimack will meet second-seeded Adelphi in the quarterfinal round of the league tournament on Wednesday (May 1), at a to-be-announced start time.