BALTIMORE – Although the Raiders doubled their efforts in the second half, the Colgate women's lacrosse program was unable to overcome No. 9 Loyola's hot start in the Patriot League Semifinals.
 
The 17-6 final sounded on the end of Colgate's season, one in which the youthful Raiders earned four postseason awards and significant league and nonconference wins.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Colgate won the opening draw, but Loyola popped two early to open the scoring. After receiving a pass from Grace Bowers, Eliza Soutter served up a side-winding move to the far side of the net to make it a one-goal game.
 
Although the Raiders continued to gain possession through fouls and finding turnovers, the Loyola defense drove play down the field. With the presence, the Greyhounds build a 5-1 advantage midway through the half before extending to a 10-goal run.
 
Reverting back to the offensive zone, Kyra Lucey had a strong free position attempt before a crossing shot to the low corner by Noelle Patterson snapped the streak. Even with the recent momentum, Colgate headed to the locker room facing a 12-2 deficit.
 
Coming back from the half looking to halt the running clock, Lucey recorded her 14th of the year with a bounce in. She went back-to-back after crossing with the quick stick to cut Loyola's lead to 12-4.
 
The presence was answered as Loyola returned to the field and after winning the draw, upped the score to 14-4.
 
Coming in with a solo effort in the eight, Eliza Soutter dodged the defender and scored over the should for a 15-5 game. Colgate followed it up with another clock-stopper as Cara O'Reilly capitalized on a free position for two straight Raider points.
 
Although there was an outstanding push to the net by Eliza Farriss with under 5:00, it was snuffed out before crossing into the cage. When Loyola added two more, the running clock returned before sounding on a 17-6 final in the Patriot League Semifinal.
 
STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
• The Raiders were much stronger in the second half, after being outscored 12-2 in the opening 30:00, they held the offense to 5-4 after halftime.
• As a whole, they battled in the final 30:00, scoring a free position goal, going 9-for-9 on clear attempts, and recovering six ground balls. The Raiders also went from seven shots and 11 turnovers in the first to producing 15 shots and only sacrificing three turnovers in the second.
• Sophomore Eliza Soutter scored in all 11 games this season to produce a total of 34 goals.
• Topping the first-years, Kyra Lucey's two tallies led to a total of 25 points on the year by 15 goals and 10 assists.
• In goal, first-year Amelia Cunningham was consistent with three saves each half. She finished the year with 93 saves, a 11.67 goals against average, and .423 save percentage.
• With the decision, Loyola advances to its seventh straight Patriot League Championship game.
 
SEASONAL STAT NUGGETS
• After the 2020 season was cut short, head coach Kathy Taylor recorded her first Patriot League win in her first league game with a 12-9 win at Holy Cross (March 13).
• Colgate opened the season with a 20-2 win over St. Bonaventure. It was the highest scoring offense since a 20-10 win on April 14, 2018, while the two goals allowed is the fewest since a 14-2 win over Delaware State on April 7, 2013.
• After earning a team-high of three draw controls today, sophomore Cara O'Reilly's 61 draw control wins are the third-most in a single season in program history. It only trails Danielle Van Calcar's 72 in 2018 and Haley O'Hanlon's 69 in 2016.
• Cleaning up postseason awards, Noelle Patterson, Eliza Soutter, and Cara O'Reilly each were named to Second Team All-Patriot League honors.
• After starting all 11 games in-goal, Amelia Cunningham was named Patriot League Rookie of the Year. She became just the seventh Patriot League Rookie of the Year in program history, and first since Haley O'Hanlon in 2015.
• Colgate graduates eight players to the Class of 2021 in Danielle Van Calcar, Noelle Patterson, Courtney Quirk, Hanna Christian, Olivia Duarte, Natalie Gwynn, Annelise Kotz, and Kyra Weiner.
• Patterson completes her career ranked `fourth in program history with 151 draw controls in her career, while Van Calcar finishes ranked fifth at 137.
 
THE BOTTOM LINE
• No. 9 Loyola 17, Colgate 6
 
RECORD UPDATES
• Colgate earned a 5-6 record, and went 3-4 in Patriot League action.
• No. 9 Loyola is 10-2 overall on the season, and earned a 4-0 mark in Patriot League play.
 
HEAD COACH KATHY TAYLOR'S TAKE
"We came down here with the intention of playing hard against a very talented Loyola team. We knew we were going to be up against a tough team, they are a more experienced than we are, and have played in many semifinals and championships, so it was a great opportunity for our young program.
 
"We had a had a lot of youth taking the field and we played the first half tentatively. Not as competitively as we could have, but I'm very proud of the response that the team had at halftime and played them to a 5-4 second half.
 
"Hopefully we can build on this. Realizing that we were closer to Loyola than we were in the first half, but a team has to put together two halves.
 
"I was very proud of the leadership this year and from the senior class. They certainly left a legacy and we're grateful for that. We look forward to our young players and incoming recruits to be back in this position next year and taking it one step further."
 
FOLLOW THE RAIDERS
For more information on the Colgate women's lacrosse program, follow the Raiders on Twitter @ColgateWLax and on Instagram at ColgateWLax.