STEUBENVILLE, OH – The Hilbert College women's lacrosse team suffered a 17-16 set-back at Franciscan University this afternoon in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Showcase Title game. 

The Hawks took their first lead, 14-13, with ten minutes left in the game, but the Barons pushed through to the final horn using the clock to their advantage.

Emily Gawlak did a little of everything today for Hilbert who had previously lost to Franciscan 18-10 in their first game of the season March 26.

The Hawks outshot the hosts, 37-36 with another slight edge on goal (29-26).  Hilbert committed fewer turnovers and had a better success-rate in clears.  But the Barons won three more draw controls and beat the Hawks to two more ground balls.

Defensively, neither team was whistled for a shooting space foul. 

Ashley Repine closed her first season in the cage with nine saves for Hilbert while Nikki Schneider led offensively with five goals and one assist. 

Emily Gawlak totaled seven points behind four goals and three assists.  She also added five ground balls, three caused turn overs and won nine draw controls.

Brooklynn Gormel earned four points (2g, 2a) along with three ground balls and Crystle Marion posted three goals.
Jennifer Cheatom was aggressive on the defensive end scooping four ground balls for the Hawks.

Franciscan jumped out to a 2-0 lead less than one minute into the game.  The Barons took a 3-0 lead at 26:48 but over the next two and a half minutes, Hilbert battled back to a 4-2 deficit.

Both teams traded scores through till half time, when the green and gold took a 9-6 lead to the break. 

Franciscan scored the first goal in the second half then Hilbert found their legs and went on a 7-2 run grabbing their first lead 13-12 at 11:48.

The score flipped three more times until the hosts took a 17-14 lead and then they held their breath till the final horn.  Schneider took a Gormel feed to the back of the net and Gawlak scored unassisted with 0:27 left.   

Congratulations to the women's lacrosse team who finished their 2017 season playing the best team lacrosse in the program's short five-year history.