Haines City, Fla. -- Three University of Lynchburg women's lacrosse players put in multi-goal performances, but it wasn't enough for the Hornets to top No. 19-ranked Denison. Lynchburg fell to the Big Red, 13-9, Monday in its Spring Break opener at the Feltrim Sports Village in Haines City, Fla.

Dara Gregory, Nicki Santora, and Payton Saville scored two goals apiece for the Hornets, and Patricia Rogers matched her season-high with 18 saves to keep Lynchburg in the game.

Denison drew blood right off the first draw, scoring just 13 seconds into the game. Alla Daniel scored at the 10:55 mark to even the score, but DU added two unanswered and took a 4-3 lead into the first-quarter break.

Lynchburg managed to tie the game at 4-4 and 5-5, both by way of Saville goals. Her second came 4:27 before halftime, and the Hornets earned a couple shots at the lead in the waning minutes of the second. Denison stopped both, however, and scored with 52 seconds left in the quarter to lead by a goal at the break.

Gregory scored in the opening minute of the third to tie the game again, this time at 6-6. Denison scored twice shortly after, but the Hornets fought back again. Anna Snoddy's goal with 7:55 left in the third knotted the score at 8-8.

Then Denison mounted a run. The Big Red scored five unanswered goals to take control of the game in the late going as the DU defense held Lynchburg scoreless for more than 21 minutes. Tori King broke the drought with a goal with 1:38 to play, but the Hornets couldn't muster any more offense.

Lynchburg (2-2) will square off against a third-straight ranked opponent Wednesday, continuing their Florida trip with a 5 p.m. draw against No. 6-ranked Franklin & Marshall at the Feltrim Sports Village.

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--LYN--