FROSTBURG, Md. – When Notre Dame College and Frostburg State University take the field in a women's lacrosse contest, it is always a battle. Wednesday evening was no different as momentum swung between the two teams several times with Frostburg State winning the game by a score of 14-13.
 
The first quarter only featured four total goals as both defenses made several big stops. Within the first two minutes, Frostburg State scored the first goal of the game, but the Falcons won the next draw control and went down the field. Senior Kendal Johnson tied the game with a successful free position shot.
 
Between the 10:10-mark and the 3:44-mark in the first, Notre Dame caused five turnovers. Sophomore Piper Hammond caused a turnover, leading to a goal by senior Jamira Mashore with an assist from sophomore Lexington Carson.
 
After another draw control win by the Falcons, Hammond scored her first goal of the game, giving NDC a 3-1 lead with under two minutes to go.
 
The Falcons had the first possession of the second quarter, but junior Charlotte Vari's shot was saved. FSU turned the game around with a 6-0 run over six minutes. With nine minutes remaining in the half, the Bobcats led 7-3.
 
The next three draw controls were won by Notre Dame and the Falcons scored three goals as Hammond, Johnson and sophomore Joselyn Storm found the net. Then, the defense was the difference that helped NDC take the lead. Senior Nia Griffith tallied one of her five caused turnovers in the game, which allowed Storm to score on the other end and tie the game at seven. Notre Dame's goalkeeper Annika Duncan saved a shot and NDC went back down the field. Senior Megan Dano scored, with an assist from Mashore.
 
The teams were tied at eight going into halftime and both teams were nearly even in most categories after 30 minutes. Notre Dame had taken 13 shots to Frostburg State's 11. NDC won one more draw control than FSU (9-8) and the Falcons caused two more turnovers than Frostburg (7-5).
 
Frostburg State scored first goal of the third quarter, but Notre Dame responded with two goals within a minute. Johnson had the first goal, with an assist by Mashore and Storm found Hammond for the other.
 
Storm scored, again, with nine minutes remaining, and then freshman Grace Rotter put NDC ahead 12-10, with 1:39 on the clock. As the teams took the field for the fourth quarter, Notre Dame led 12-11.
 
Within the first five minutes of the final stanza, Duncan had already saved two shots, one being a kick save on a free position.
 
FSU scored to tie the game, with 8:17 left, but Hammond won the next draw and scored on a solid cut to the goal to give the Falcons a 13-12 advantage.
 
The Bobcats scored the next two goals to grab the lead, but a caused turnover by Griffith set up the Falcons for the final possession. However, NDC did not tie the game in the final minute.
 
Griffith finished the game with five caused turnovers, which was not only a career-high, but also tied for ninth most in program history. Hammond (7) and Carson (4) both notched career-high draw controls, as NDC won 17 draws as a team.
 
Hammond also tied her career-high with four goals. Storm and Johnson each scored three times. Mashore finished with three assists and Carson added two. In goal, Duncan saved eight shots, one off of her career-high.
 
NDC will come home to take on Alderson Broaddus University, on April 7. First draw is scheduled for 4 p.m.