ORLANDO , Fla – The Hilbert College women's lacrosse team played their only game down in the Wide World Of Disney Sporting Complex today and suffered a 17-6 non-conference loss to Beloit College. 

Kristi Mergenhagen scored four goals and won six draw controls for the Hawks as they slipped to 0-2 on the year.

Beloit opened the game beating Meghan Stewart just 24-seconds into the game and they didn't let up from there.  With just ten minutes ticked off the game clock, the Buccaneers had accumulated a 5-0 lead and never looked back.

Kelly Mandell earned the Hawks first goal at 12:58 and sandwiched in the middle of two of Mergenhagen goals was another Beloit tally.  Megan Smith went the distance and claimed an unassisted score to gave Hilbert four goals by half time.

Beloit returned to form and pressured the Hawks with five more goals over a span of six minutes in the opening of the second half.  Mergenhagen found the back of the net twice more before the final horn.

Hilbert finished the game with 18 shots with 12 of them zeroed-in on target.  Both teams were even in ground balls with Beloit gaining a slight edge, 26-25. But the Aggies were more successful on draw controls gaining the ball immediately after 17 of the 25 sets.

Chantelle Mikolajczak led the Hawks with five ground balls followed closely by Robbi Bailey who earned three.  The two veteran players also were the only Hawks to force a caused turnover.

Meghan Stewart was credited with six saves between the pipes.

Hilbert's next game is scheduled for Saturday, March 22 at SUNYIT in Utica, NY.  The Hawks hope to host their home opener on Sunday, March 23.