INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian women's lacrosse team put up a fight in their toughest game to date on the schedule, but ran out of gas in the fourth quarter against No. 3 Lawrence Tech, falling to the Blue Devils 15-11 in the regular season finale. Marian closes the regular season with a 12-4 record, going 7-2 in WHAC play. 

The Knights settled into the game after committing an early pair of turnovers, forcing one of their own while getting a save in the cage by Katherine Hirsch to set up an offensive strike. After missing on their first shot attempt of the game, Grace Martin was able to bury her second attempt as Madeline Dumke found the fellow senior to beat the play clock and give Marian a 1-0 lead. Marian continued to play strong defense and set up offensive chances, getting their second goal of the game with 5:59 remaining in the opening quarter as Anna Moore sliced a shot past the keeper.

The lead would be short-lived as Lawrence Tech replied with two goals scored 57 seconds apart from one another, as Bella Louwerse and Morgan Waligora were able to tie the game. Marian was able to get one more crack at the cage, and with 60 seconds remaining in the first quarter Ashlynn Gray sliced a score past the keeper to give Marian a 3-2 lead to end first 15 minutes of play. 

Six minutes into the second quarter the Knights pushed their lead back to a pair as Ella Grace Giedd got involved on offense, scoring her first goal of the evening to provide a 4-2 edge on the scoreboard. The Blue Devils quickly answered with a Gabi Mitchell goal, and eventually took their first lead of the night as Mitchell completed a hat trick with 5:34 to play before half. Louwerese would score with 3:25 remaining as Lawrence Tech pushed their lead to two, but on the ensuing draw the ball squirmed to Grace Martin, who was able to set up Ruby Mason for the half's final score. 

Despite just nine shots to Lawrence Tech's 21, Marian was able to enter the half trailing 6-5. 

Lawrence Tech attacked on offense early in the third quarter as they were able to grow their lead to three with the clocked dipping below the 10 mintue mark, as a pair of goals including one man-down grew the visiting cause to three. Marian stayed in the game, and rallied behind Ella Grace Giedd, as the freshman scored back to back goals after causing a turnover to get Marian back within one goal. The Blue Devils called a timeout and were able to extend their margin to a pair once more as Bella Burke made it a 9-7 game, but another rally cry from Giedd along with a goal from Emily Blackburn tied the game at nine with 2:51 left in the quarter. 

The back and forth trend tipped in favor of Lawrence Tech in the waning moments of the third quarter with Mitchell slicing a goal past Hirsch to take a 10-9 lead, but the Knights had one final push, attacking the cage in the final 30 seconds. The Knights defense blocked a free-position shot, and with 15.9 seconds remaining Grace Martin was drilled on the sideline, drawing a yellow card. After the restart, the senior connected with Taleah Nool, who scored a tying goal to send the game into the fourth quarter tied 10-10.

Marian's energy fell off after five strong minutes to start the fourth quarter, as their rally efforts exhausted the team. Lawrence Tech scored four unanswered goals in a five minute window, sealing the game with 4:26 remaining. Ashlynn Gray would score her second goal after winning a draw control, but the Blue Devils were able to play keep away while adding an extra goal, ending the contest with a 15-11 Marian loss. 

Giedd led the Knights in goals as she pushed four past the keepers of Lawrence Tech, while Gray scored twice and added one assist. Martin netted three points in the loss with her goal and two assists. Katelynn Gray led Marian in caused turnovers and ground balls with four each.

Hirsch played strong in goal against the touted offense of Lawrence Tech, holding her opponent under their season average by three goals, while making 10 saves. 

Marian will begin the WHAC Tournament on Tuesday night, as they host Bethel University. Marian earned the three-seed in the upcoming tournament, hosting a conference tournament game for the first time in program history. The start time for the game has yet to be determined, but will be announced soon.

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