WASHINGTON – Despite keeping the game tight through three quarters, American University women's lacrosse fell to Patriot League foe Holy Cross by a score of 15-9 on Saturday afternoon at the Jacobs Complex.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Junior goalkeeper Lexi Rakis got her second consecutive start for the Eagles, recording 10 saves in the effort.
• Attacker Annabelle Jackson led the Eagles with three goals on four shots, with attacker Bella Frank adding two goals.
• Midfielder Hannah Spease assisted on two of Jackson's goals while also scoring one of her own to join Jackson with three points for the game.
• Frank led American with five draw controls.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Jordan Mitchell controlled possession for the Eagles from the draw, but the Eagles' first shot attempt was saved by the Holy Cross keeper.
• Holy Cross controlled the pace for the next 10 minutes of game play. However, American's defense stood strong, not allowing the Crusaders to break through until the 8:30 mark in the first quarter when Holy Cross took a 1-0 lead.
• Frank responded, getting the Eagles on the board at the 4:37 mark in the first to tie the game up.
• Holy Cross answered with a quick response, but then Spease found Jackson twice in less than a minute to give the Eagles a 3-2 lead.
• Rakis came up with a big save with time winding down to preserve the Eagles' lead 15 minutes in. Rakis recorded five saves in the first quarter.
• Lizzie De Guzman added another goal for AU a minute into the second quarter the put the Eagles up by two.
• The Crusaders had a strong response, scoring five unanswered to retake the lead, leading 7-4 with a minute left in the half.
• With just nine seconds left before the intermission, Alyssa Apuzzo found the back of the net to get one back. American trailed 7-5 halfway through.
• After a five-minute stalemate to begin the second half, Holy Cross capitalized with two quick goals to take a 9-5 lead with 9:27 left in the third.
• Frank came up with a quick answer to bring the Eagles back within three. Eight minutes later, Jackson scored her third of the game off a free-position shot to complete the hat trick. American trailed 9-7 heading into the final frame.
• The Crusaders and Eagles traded goals to start the fourth with each team scoring two. Kellie Linehan and Spease got on the board for the Eagles.
• The Eagles weren't able to maintain momentum, however, and American continued to trail by two, the score 9-7 with 9:41 to play.
• Holy Cross went on a 4-0 run to close the game and take the victory, 15-9.

NEXT UP

• American heads up to West Point to take on Army next Saturday, April 6 at noon.

STAY CONNECTED

• For the latest on AU Lacrosse, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_Lacrosse) and Instagram (@au_wlax).