The women’s lacrosse season has not started out on a positive note for the Raiders. After a fantastic 2006 season and high expectations heading into this season’s campaign, the Raiders are two games into their schedule and still in search of their first victory.

The consecutive losses, however, could easily have been back-to-back wins. The season opened with a crushing 11-10 loss to Stony Brook on Tyler’s Field. Last weekend’s contest at LaSalle proved to be equally heartbreaking.

The first half of the game in Philadelphia was very evenly contested, as the Explorers took a 7-6 lead into halftime. The Raiders stormed out of the locker room to begin the second half, scoring four unanswered goals to take a commanding 10-7 lead just five minutes into the period.

Sophomore Sara Drexler, returning to her home state, played well in net for Colgate. She finished the game with eight saves, holding the Explorers scoreless for the first sixteen minutes of the second half. Unfortunately, she and the Raiders could not keep the ball out of the back of the net for the final 14 minutes.

LaSalle cut the lead to one with two goals in 61 seconds, the second coming with 12:18 remaining in regulation.

With 4:51 remaining, the Explorers struck again, knotting the game at 10. The score was still tied with less than two minutes remaining when LaSalle found the back of the net once again, this time for the game-winner.

This marked the second consecutive 11-10 loss for Colgate to open the season.

Leading the way for the Raiders was Junior Lindsay Pittard, who recorded two goals and two assists in the loss. Sophomore Ashley Didio added two goals and an assist, while Senior Brianne Tierney and Junior Jessica Van der Meulen added two goals apiece.

“There were moments of brilliance against LaSalle, especially at the beginning of the second half,” senior tri-captain Nancy Hickling said afterwards. “Losing is never the desired outcome, but I really think that as long as we truly learn and grow from the LaSalle game, we can easily jump right back on track and really challenge some of these big teams coming up. We are a young team that is going to grow and improve with every game, and although it’s frustrating to lose by one goal, it is a learning experience.”

Continuing their seven-game road trip, the Raiders travel to Penn State this Sunday. Game time is 1 p.m.