INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian women's lacrosse team bounced back into the win column on Thursday evening at Ascension St. Vincent Field, as the Knights completed a home-opening upset over No. 7 Missouri Baptist, winning 9-8. Marian's upset win improves the team record to 2-1 on the young season.

The Spartans would strike first on Thursday night, getting a quick goal 28 seconds into the game, but Marian would respond, scoring the next two as they tightened their defense. Ruby Mason scored the tying goal, while Rylie Boezeman scored a man-up goal, giving the Knights a 2-1 lead. Marian would never trail after the Boezeman goal, but did see the game come to a draw, as Missouri Baptist leveled the score with 7:39 to play in the first quarter, only to see Marian reclaim the lead on Skyler O'Leary's unassisted goal. 

Marian led 3-2 entering the second quarter, and remained on top for 10 minutes, as the Knights fortified the back line and saw stellar play in goal from Aniyah Jones to deny the Spartans. Missouri Baptist would break the drought with 5:14 to play as they leveled the game 3-3, but before the quarter would expire, both Ruby Mason and Alex Dean hammered home goals, as the back-to-back scores gave the Knights a 5-3 edge at the break.

Missouri Baptist would threaten Marian early after halftime as Marissa Oldham scored a man-advantage goal, but it would not be enough to generate momentum for the  Spartans as Ella Grace Giedd rattled the cage with 8:44 to play in the third, breaking Marian's all-time points scored record in the process. The Spartans would counter Giedd's goal with a pair of goals to tie the contest, but with 3:52 remaining, Ruby Mason pushed the Knights back in front 7-6 to take a lead entering the fourth quarter.

In the final stanza, Marian scored the first two goals, putting the game out of reach as Gieed and Delaney Koles pushed their team in front 9-6 with 5:32 remaining in the game. Missouri Baptist would put pressure on the Knights as they scored back-to-back goals, making it a one-score game with 93 seconds to play, but the Knights were able to win the ensuing draw, running out the clock to preserve the 9-8 upset win. 

Mason led the Knights in goals with three in the win, scoring a hat trick in addition to recovering two ground balls. Ella Grace Giedd scored twice and assisted on three goals in the win, while Dean, Boezeman, O'Leary, and Koles each scored one goal. Giedd and Olivia Dean each caused four turnovers in the win, and Aniyah Jones had a team-high four ground balls. Jones made seven saves in goal as she moved to 2-1 on the season. 

Marian next plays on Thursday, March 12, as they host No. 1 Benedictine at 5:00 p.m.

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