SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – On an emotional Friday afternoon, the Shippensburg University women's lacrosse team took to the field at Robb Sports Complex for a crucial PSAC clash with Mercyhurst after honoring a fallen friend during a pregame ceremony. In the end, the day's cavalcade of emotions ended with heartbreak, as the visiting Lakers netted a buzzer beater to defeat Shippensburg, 13-12.

It was a difficult end to a difficult day for the Raiders, as Friday marked one year since the passing of Barbara Brown – the mother of SU junior Roxanne Brown.

Shippensburg (7-7, 3-6 PSAC) played with passion throughout the contest but was particularly buoyed in the first half. SU raced out to a 6-3 lead with less than 10 minutes to play in the opening frame and held an 8-7 lead at intermission. In fact, the Raiders trailed for just 57 seconds in Friday's contest, with the Lakers' game-winning goal being just the second time all day that the visitors held a lead.

Mercyhurst (9-5, 7-2 PSAC) took advantage of a late SU turnover en route to the decisive tally. With just under three seconds remaining, the Lakers were fouled just outside of the scoring arc. After the restart, Jessica Lincoln fed a pass over to Kayla Minner, who deposited a shot into the net as time expired. Minner, one of two Lakers with a hat trick on Friday, had also tied the game with 6:48 to go.

Before Friday's game began, each SU starter was presented with a rose that they held in their hands as they took to the field. The whole team stood in unison with the roses, as those assembled paused for a moment of silence in remembrance of Mrs. Brown. Following the national anthem, the team crossed the field and placed the roses around a poster of Brown that adorned the fence.

Also on Friday, as it has all season, Shippensburg women's lacrosse continued its partnership with the women's athletic sorority Tau Kappa to promote awareness for drunk driving and raise money for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). All of the proceeds collected this season will be provided to MADD in Mrs. Brown's memory.

On the field, the Raiders benefitted from the duo of junior Lindsey Kennedy and sophomore Bennett Widlake – who were in rhythm with one another all day. Kennedy scored four goals, recorded five draw controls, and handed out assists on three straight goals by Widlake during the first half. Widlake finished with five goals, bringing her season total to 31, handed out two assists, recorded three caused turnovers and won three draw controls.

Senior Ali Cross was staunch in goal for the Raiders as well, making a career-high 15 saves. Six of those stops came on free-position opportunities for the Lakers. Cross also had a caused turnover and two groundball pickups.

On Saturday, SU will hold its Senior Day ceremonies before a 3 p.m. contest against No. 15 Gannon. Meagan Borgoyn, Cross, Lauren Hauck, Meghan Kearney and Jessica Schubach will be recognized before the game.