BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb dropped a 12-9 women's lacrosse decision to Saint Francis (Pa.) on a cold and rainy Tuesday morning in Ernest W. Spangler Stadium.

The Runnin' Bulldogs (1-4) used a fierce rally midway through the first half to seize control of the game, outscoring the Red Flash by a 5-1 margin in the final 15 minutes of the opening period. That put the 'Dogs on top 6-3 at the break.

Amanda Steinmuller scored four of those goals for Gardner-Webb in the first half, including two in a row with less than four minutes to play to give the Runnin' Bulldogs plenty of momentum heading into the locker room. Steinmuller's third goal of the half, which came at the 3:21 mark, was the 100th of her career.

Saint Francis got a quick goal to start the second half, as Paige Brady found Jessica Fischetti open with just 55 seconds gone off the game clock to trim the lead to 6-4.

Gardner-Webb had an answer, as Maddie Martin took a feed from Lindsey Lippert for her first career goal with 27:57 on the clock. The Red Flash (3-3) went on their run from there, outscoring Gardner-Webb 6-0 over the next 14 minutes.

Emileigh Scott, who dominated draw controls in the final 30 minutes, scored to make the score 7-5, then Jessica Mazzur connected with 26:42 to play to pull Saint Francis within one. Lauren Ryan took a pass from Fischetti with 26:42 remaining to even the score, and Mazzur sandwiched two more goals around a score from Fischetti to put the Red Flash up 10-7 with 13:08 to play.

Gardner-Webb rallied, getting goals from Hailey Maranto (11:41) and Abby Hanscom (10:08) to pull within one, but Saint Francis goalie Ashley Stoessel came up with a key one-on-one save of a Steinmuller shot with 7:10 remaining on the game clock.

Mazzur scored again off a free position with 5:30 left to put Saint Francis up two goals and Amanda Heidt found the back of the net with 2:50 remaining to effectively seal the game.

Gardner-Webb held a shooting advantage in the first half, but Saint Francis countered in the second half to finish with a 30-28 edge. 

The Runnin' Bulldogs did hold a 27-20 ground ball advantage, but Saint Francis turned the tide of the game in the second half – with Scott's dominant effort helping the Red Flash to a 10-3 edge in draw controls over the final 30 minutes.

Both teams finished with 22 turnovers and Gardner-Webb was whistled for 18 fouls. GWU keeper Katie Sylvester came away with 11 saves on the day.

Gardner-Webb will hit the road for its next two games, traveling to American University on March 9 for a 1:00 pm game and to Delaware State on March 11 for a noon first draw. GWU returns home on March 17 to host Quinnipiac at noon in Spangler Stadium.