WLAX Takes Down Fresno State, 18-17

TEMPE, Ariz. – The Marquette University women's lacrosse team outlasted Fresno State, 18-17, on Saturday afternoon to complete their trip out west with a 1-1 record.

"I'm really proud of the team and I think we played really great in several moments today," MU head coach Meredith Black says. "We let up too many goals in the second half and the game got too close at the end, but I know we'll have close games like this in BIG EAST play so in a sense it was good to prepare for that."

Lydia Foust and Caroline Steller set career-highs with four goals apiece to pace the offense while Caroline Peterson added her second hat trick in the past three games. Shea Garcia, Megan Menzuber and Lindsey Hill netted two goals each.

MU trailed 4-3 in the first half before it closed the final 23 minutes of the half on a 9-3 run to go into the break leading 12-7. Steller scored three of her four goals in the first 30 minutes of play.

The Golden Eagles started the second half the same way they ended the first, scoring four consecutive goals in the opening 14 minutes to take a 16-7 lead.

FSU refused to go away, however, scoring six straight goals to cut the deficit to three. A Lindsey Hill free position goal and a final tally from Lydia Foust proved to be just enough to push MU over the top as it held off another late run from the Bulldogs to grind out a one-goal victory.

Senior defender Erin Dowdle played one of her best games of the season, coming away with a career-best six draw controls and picking up four ground balls.

The Golden Eagles were outshot 42-29 but excellent efforts from Jules Horning (11 saves) and Sophia Leva (nine saves) helped to keep the Bulldogs from coming out on top.

STAT OF THE DAY:
MU's 10 assists on the afternoon tied for fourth all-time for most assists in a single game in program history.

UP NEXT:
Marquette returns to Milwaukee for a two-game homestand this week at Valley Fields. The Golden Eagles host Central Michigan on Wednesday at noon and Ohio State on Saturday at 2 p.m. Central time. Both games will be live streamed on GoMarquette.com.

Keep up with the Marquette women's lacrosse program all season long through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteWLax) and Instagram (@MarquetteWLax) and `liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteWLax).