The Lee lacrosse team fell to the University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) 22-16 on Thursday evening in a non-conference battle.
Emma Hill paced the Lady Flames (7-7) with four goals. Brianne Schapira, Madeline Perrigo, and Becca Broadwick each recorded a hat trick. Hanah Rotello scored multiple goals and Rachel Duda add a single strike to wrap up the Lee scoresheet.
The Patriots (15-1) got on the scoreboard first as Samantha Tullar scored just 55 seconds into the game.
Lee answered as Hill and Schapira scored two goals within twenty seconds of each other to take a 2-1 lead with just over 26 minutes remaining in the first half.
At the end of the half it was Duda beating the buzzer as she scored on an assist from Hill with two seconds remaining to send coach Addie Wadley’s squad to halftime down just 10-9.
The Lady Flames came out and tied the game with 26:58 left on a Schapira goal but the Cumberlands responded with a five-goal run over six minutes to take a commanding lead they would never surrender.
The Kentucky team used a run of four goals to all but seal the win over a two-minute span to open up a 20-13 lead with 9:19 remaining.
Lee made things interesting with a three goal run of their own thanks two from Perrigo and one from Hill but would draw no closer than 20-16.
Christina Hill got the start, and loss for Lee allowing 15 goals and saving five in just under 40 minutes of action.
Abby Sanders came in just over 20 minutes and allowed seven while stopping one.
The Cumberlands had four players record a hat trick in Tullar (6), Jaclyn Berry (5), while Emily Heim and Katherine Brewer threw in three apiece.
Lee outshot their opponents (37-34), had more shots on goal (29-28), ground balls (22-18), and draw controls (22-18) despite coming up on the short-end where it matters most in the final score.
The Lady Flames will be back in action on Saturday as they start a three-game home stand to end the regular season. Lee will play its final non-conference match against Truett-McConnell at 1 p.m. before facing off with Alabama Huntsville on Wednesday at 4 and Shorter on Apr. 14 at 1 p.m.