Box Score
SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- In a Mountain East Conference showdown, the Falcons hosted the University of Virginia-Wise Cavaliers in their final home game of the season on Sunday afternoon at Normandy Field. After falling behind early, the Falcons rallied late in the second half but fell short in their comeback effort, falling 10-9 to the Cavaliers.

Aside from being the final gome game of the season, it was also Senior Day for the Notre Dame College women's lacrosse team as they celebrated Allison Merten and Nikki Costa. Both seniors were cheered by friends and family before they each played their final game at Normandy Field.

Following the pre-game cheers, the Falcons opened the game with momentum on their side as Brooke Czarnecki scored the opening goal of the game. However, it was the Cavaliers who had momentum after that as a pair of quick goals gave UVA-Wise a 2-1 lead with 23:21 left in the first half.

The Cavaliers pushed their lead to 6-1 before the Falcons cut into the deficit again as Czarnecki scored again for the Falcons. Czarnecki's second goal of the game came with 8:59 to go in the first half, and trimmed the deficit to 6-2. However, UVA-Wise rattled off two more goals before the halftime buzzer, and the Falcons trailed 8-2 at the break.

The second half was a different story for the Falcons, who came out of the intermission with a spring in their step. 

Just 40 seconds into the second half, Darbie Barkman scored an unassisted goal to spark the Falcons. A few minutes later at the 22:03 mark, Barkman stepped up again for the Falcons, scoring her second goal and cutting the deficit to 8-4. 

The Cavaliers pushed back with a goal of their own to take a 9-4 lead, but the Falcons refused to quit. With 19:13 remaining in the game, Czarnecki netted a hat trick with her third goal of the day, but UVA-Wise again scored to keep a five-goal lead, 10-5.

Trailing by five with less than 19 minutes to go in the game, the Falcons depended on their senior leadership. Allison Merten scored off an assist from Barkman with 18:01 to go in the game, again trimming the deficit to just four.

Two minutes later, Barkman recorded another assist as Edy Mowrey scored to cut further into the Cavaliers' lead. Shortly after that, the Falcons scored again as Halie Taylor joined the scoring party, making the deficit just 10-8.

As time continued to wind down in the second half, the Falcons pushed for offensive opportunities. With just 6:11 remaining, NDC created an offensive chance as Barkman dished a pass to Merten, who finished on the play to bring the Falcons within one, 10-9.

NDC continued to push for more offensive chances in the final minutes of the game, but couldn't convert as the Falcons fell just short to the Cavaliers on Senior Day, losing by a final score of 10-9.

Czarnecki finished the game with a team-high three goals while Barkman and Merten each scored twice. Barkman led the Falcons with three assists on the day.

The Falcons will next play on Friday, April 17 at Wheeling Jesuit University in another MEC matchup.