The University of Redlands women's lacrosse team battled it out with the Athenas of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges in a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) match on Saturday afternoon.  In another defensive battle, the Bulldogs fell short by a score of 5-6, with sophomore midfielder Lacey Bjorndal scoring a hat trick.

After a scoreless nine minutes to start the game, the teams traded two goals each over the next five minutes, with senior midfielder Sam Keary (Mission Viejo, CA) and Bjorndal finding the back of the net.  In addition, senior midfielder Stephanie Garrett (San Diego, CA) provided the assist on Keary's first goal of the season.

Both squads stepped up defensively through the end of the half, with sophomore goalkeeper Quinn Egan (Greenwood Village, CO) serving as the Bulldogs' brick wall.

Redlands nabbed its first lead of the contest at 3-2 when Bjorndal fired off a goal on a free-position shot with just over 20 minutes remaining.

After a CMS shot sailed wide and Bjorndal grabbed the ground ball, the Bulldogs extended their lead on a goal by freshman midfielder Hanna Morford (West Linn, OR), which she converted off an assist from junior midfielder Breanne Rideout (San Diego, CA).

However, the Athenas answered with four-straight goals over the next six minutes to provide just enough of a difference for the win.

Bjorndal finished off her hat trick with a goal at the 4:40-mark, but CMS managed to hold off the Bulldogs' late offensive push.

Overall, Garrett picked up four ground balls and two draw controls.

Egan registered five saves in a complete-game effort.

Redlands (2-3, 2-3 SCIAC) takes an eight-game break from SCIAC competition, beginning on Tuesday, March 8, when it hosts Albion College (MI) at 7 p.m. on Farquhar Field.