WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. --- The seventh-ranked Life University women's lacrosse team found itself in a tightly contested, physical contest today in the Mid-South Conference Tournament Semifinals against the North Division's top seed, No. 2 University of the Cumberlands, fading late in the game for the 16-9 loss at the UC Lacrosse Complex.
 
NOTES
• The loss sees Life U fall out of the MSC Tournament and the team's record move to 10-6 as the team looks forward to the NAIA National Tournament, while Cumberlands (Ky.) moves to the conference championship game with a 14-0 record.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMERS 
• Maria Arvizu stood out as one of the top performers for the Running Eagles on the day, leading the team with four total points off of three goals and an assists. The junior also collected five ground balls, caused two turnovers, and won nine draw controls.
• Lacy Legaspi and Brianna Freeman both collected a pair of goals, Legaspi rounding up three ground balls to go with her scores, while Freeman had a ground ball and a caused turnover.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED 
• The teams fought over the ball and field position over the first couple of minutes before the Running Eagles found themselves on their back foot as the Patriots scored the first two goals of the competition in quick succession. Both team's went scoreless for another seven minutes before Freeman got Life U on the board 2-1 with a little over 13 minutes to go in the first. Four Cumberlands' (Ky.) goals over the next four minutes put Life U in a 6-1 hole, but the Running Eagles ran off three of their own scores from Arvizu, Annaliese Froese, and Tina Ricci to get the team back into the game 6-4. A couple more Patriots scores and Freeman's second goal of the game saw the team's go into the break, Cumberlands leading 9-5.
• An early Patriots' goal saw their lead swell to 10-5, but three Life U goals over a four minute span leading into the 20 minute mark saw the team pull back within two scores at 10-8. After a Legaspi score with 19:12 left in the game kept the score within two at 11-9, the Running Eagles would not find the back of the net again. The Running Eagles continued to get good looks at the goal and kept pressure up on that side of the field, but the Patriots pulled away to give Life U the 16-9 loss.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Despite losing the game, Life U led in almost every statistical category. The Running Eagles held a sizable 34-24 advantage in shots taken, while leading shots on goal 27-21.
• The lone statistical category the Patriots led Life U in was saves, holding a lopsided 18-5 advantage.
• The Running Eagles were effective clearing the ball, going 18-of-22 during the game, while Cumberlands (Ky.) clear percentage was only 21-of-32.
• Cumberlands (Ky.) was forced into committing more turnovers, leading the category 27-25.
• Life U picked up more ground balls than the Patriots at 23-21, and held an advantage in draw controls over the game with 15 to the Patriots' 12.
 
UP NEXT
• The women's lacrosse team now turn to the NAIA National Tournament where an announcement on seeds will be made next week and then the tournament itself will get started in Savannah, Ga. on May 5.