Williamsburg, Ky. - The Marian women's lacrosse team came up short in their 2024 season opening game on Saturday afternoon, as the Knights fell 16-15 at the hands of the fourth-ranked Cumberlands Patriots. Graduate-transfer Katie Murphy set a program record for goals in a debut in the defeat.

Saturday's season opener was a back and forth contest, as the score remained a draw after each of the first three quarters. Katie Murphy wasted no time making her impact felt as the graduate enrollee scored the first goal of the season less than five minutes into the game, but a response from the Patriots would level the score less than one minute later. The Patriots would follow their goal with two more to make it a 3-0 run, as Marian fell behind 3-1 as the clock ticked under six minute to play in the first. The Knights would regain momentum ending the first quarter, as Ruby Mason and Murphy each scored in the final two minutes of the first quarter to tie the score entering the second.

The second quarter played out nearly identical to the first, as both the Knights and Patriots traded goals within the first five minutes. The Patriots would take a 5-4 lead with 2:20 to play in the half as the defenses by both teams kept the contest a 4-4 draw for nearly eight minutes, putting Marian behind entering the waning moments. A goal with 70 seconds remaining would change the tone of the quarter and ignite a high-scoring finish to the half, as Murphy scored twice to give Marian a brief 6-5 lead, but with six seconds left the Patriots tied the game, putting the halftime score at 6-6.

Marian would break the trend of the game and score two goals in the first four minutes of the second half, as Mason and Ella Grace Giedd scored goals to give Marian an 8-6 lead. Cumberlands would return the scoring favor with a goal at the 9:06 mark, while six minutes later a man-advantage goal leveled the game 8-8. Murphy would score Marian's ninth goal with 2:10 remaining in the quarter to take a 9-8 lead, but in the final 75 seconds Cumberlands would score again, putting the game at a 9-9 draw entering the fourth quarter. 

The Patriots would take true control of the game for the first time by either team as the fourth quarter started, out-scoring Marian 3-1 in the first 3:03 of the quarter to take a 12-10 lead. Despite a Marian timeout, Cumberlands would again break through the defense, taking a three-goal lead as they built a 13-10 advantage. Marian would get within two goals of the home team lead twice as Mason and Murphy rattled the cage, but the Patriot lead seemed near insurmountable.

The Knights made one final comeback as Ashlynn Gray and Giedd brought the score within one with 2:03 to play, but a Patriot goal following the ensuing draw control put the game on ice with 57 seconds to goal. Murphy would score her final goal with 14 seconds remaining in the game to bring the score within one, but Marian failed to win the following draw, ending the game in the losing end of the 16-15 score.

Katie Murphy set a Marian record in the game, as her six goals set a program record for goals in a Marian debut. Mason and Giedd each scored four goals in the game, and Ashlynn Gray scored one goal. Katelynn Gray led Marian in assists with two of the team's five, and her sister Ashlynn Gray led the team with six draw controls. 

Marian will return to play this coming Wednesday, traveling to Georgetown College for a 5:00 p.m. game.

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