BETHANY, W.V.- The Ave Maria University women's lacrosse team could not overcome an early deficit on Wednesday afternoon, and fell to the Saints of Siena Heights University, 19-9, at Bethany College in West Virginia. Both teams entered the game in the receiving votes category of the NAIA Coaches' Poll, with the Saints ranked 13th in the nation and the Gyrenes ranked 16th. 

Siena Heights scored ten of the game's first eleven goals, including nine in a row in the first half. The game was tied at one less than three minutes in after goals from SHU's Jenna Sommerville and AMU's Calena Carabelli. The next nine goals were scored by the Saints, led by five from Marissa Cirino and two from Natalie Williams. Emma Davis stopped the streak with a goal with less than a minute remaining, but Siena Heights took a 10-2 lead into halftime.

The second half was more balanced between the teams, as Siena Heights increased their lead by outscoring Ave 9-7. Aiyanah Simms, who scored four times in the second half, scored the first goal of the half to pull AMU within seven. However, the next three goals were scored by Siena Heights, and the Saint lead would not again dip below eight goals. In addition to the four goals from Simms, other tallies in the final 30 minutes were added by Davis, Michelle Tran, and Alexa Keeler.

Ave Maria was led by Simms and Davis, who combined for six of the team's nine goals. Emma Baughman was responsible for the team's lone assist. Jessica Denara led the team with four ground balls, while Tran and Davis each logged four draw controls. Defensively, Tran, Davis, Simms, and Denara each caused two turnovers. In goal, Kaylee Wesolowski made nine saves for the Gyrenes, a game-high.

Marissa Cirino powered the Siena Heights effort, scoring eight goals and assisting on four others. Williams and Sommerville added four goals each, while Alexis Nicole led all players with six draw controls. Elizabeth Elliott earned the win in goal for the Saints, making five saves.

AMU will play the final game of their Spring Break trip on Saturday against the Titans of Westminster College. Westminster, an NCAA Division III program, enters the game with a 1-3 record. The opening draw of the contest is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania.