After a crucial Patriot League win over Navy last weekend, the women’s lacrosse team looked to continue their winning ways when they traveled to Maryland on Saturday afternoon to take on Loyola. Despite a two-goal effort by senior Megan Ark and junior Taylor Fischer, the Greyhounds attacking unit led the way and paced Loyola to an 18-7 victory.

The 2014 Patriot League Champions got off to a fast start against Colgate with a five-goal run led by Loyola senior Kara Burke. Burke had a highlight reel performance as she was responsible for four out of the five and added two more to finish out with six goals. Megan Ark, Colgate’s leading scorer, put an end to the run with an unassisted tally at the fourteen-minute mark. Junior attacker Taylor Fischer chipped in just two minutes later to make it 5-2 before Loyola would go on to a six-goal run and build a comfortable 13-3 lead going into halftime.

The Greyhounds picked up where they left off as they scored three unanswered goals to open up the second half. Ark halted the run again, though, and scored her 23rd goal of the season to make it 16-4. Sophomore Isabel Kreitler then added some life to the Raider’s offense after scoring off an assist from first-year Haley O’Hanlon with nine minutes left in the contest. Despite goals from Fischer and junior attacker Kallan Murray during the final five minutes, it wasn’t enough for the Raiders as Loyola walked away with an 18-7 victory to extend their winning streak against 0Patriot League opponents this season. 

Loyola held a 24-19 advantage in shots taken during the game and challenged the Raiders defense to adjust in the second half. Burke tallied six goals in the win to lead all players while both Ark and Fischer recorded four shots and two goals apiece. While the away trip did not conclude in another Patriot League victory for the Raiders, head coach Heather Young believes the team will use the loss as a learning experience. 

“Great game by Loyola today. They started off fast and got us on our heels,” Young said. “I was proud of how the team adjusted in the second half when we changed up our defense and the attacks started to fall. There is a lot for us to learn from this game as we prepare for Boston University on Wednesday.”

With the win on Saturday afternoon, Loyola is the first team to clinch a spot in the 2015 Patriot League Tournament. Colgate dropped to 3-2 in the Patriot League and fourth overall in the standings. The team will have to bounce back quickly as they travel to Boston University on Wednesday for their last away game of the season. The Terriers are coming off an 8-5 win over Lehigh and will look to extend their two-game winning streak. 

“Boston University is always a really aggressive team,” senior goalie Jennie Berglin said. “We have to make sure their style of play doesn’t effect our overall game plan.”  

Colgate remains in the competitive hunt to clinch a spot in the Patriot League Tournament. The team has three more Patriot League

opponents to play in their regular season schedule and each contest will be pivotal in defining their post-season future. 

The Raiders will head back to Hamilton after Wednesday’s game to recover and welcome Lafayette on Saturday April 11. With warmer weather right around the corner, the game is tabbed as Colgate Athletics annual Spring Coming game and the first 200 fans will receive a free tank top. The game will be held at Beyers-Small Field and is set for a 1 p.m.

start time.