CLINTON, S.C. – The second-half scoring totals were what made the difference in the Presbyterian College lacrosse team's Friday night loss to Merrimack, the penultimate non-conference bout that swayed to the visiting side 16-9.

Eerily similar to last season's matchup with the Warriors which was decided by six, the two parties were deadlocked at intermission until PC's opponent outscored them 10-3 throughout the final 30 minutes.

Junior Kaylie Rittmueller carried the Blue Hose offense with a hat-trick, followed closely by Kate Dominick and freshman Harper Johnson who both put in a pair of goals.

Head coach Eric Clakeley's unit is now 2-6 on the season and will wrap up the pre-Big South schedule in under 48 hours when Manhattan comes to town for a noon start this Sunday.


 
FINAL SCORE: Merrimack, 16 – Presbyterian, 9
RECORDS: Presbyterian (2-6) – Merrimack (3-5)
LOCATION: Bailey Memorial Stadium (Clinton, S.C.)


 
NOTABLES

 
- After witnessing her first multi-score effort in a narrow defeat to FDU earlier in the week, Johnson repeated that stat-line in just 16 minutes.

- Twenty-four of Merrimack's 30 shots fell on-line with the target, putting heavy pressure on PC goalies Kayleigh Aitken and Morgan Thompson who each stopped four attempts.

- The Warriors kept Presbyterian at a distance thanks to a 21-6 discrepancy in draw controls, turning over the Blue Hose 15 times and growing the lead with a 6-1 edge in the 3^rd.

- Merrimack crept past the Blue Hose thanks to six goals from Lindsay Atkinson, along with six assists on the part of Sophia Ingenito. Additionally, Mia Juvelier snared 11 draws.


 
HOW IT HAPPENED

 
- Rittmueller and Johnson synced up for four makes in the first two periods, closing a very back-and-forth half with neither side connecting in the last seven minutes.

- From the 8:16 stamp of the 3^rd period all the way to the 10:41 mark of the last quarter, Merrimack went on a 5-0 march that dug a steep hole for the home side.

- One/third of the Warriors' shots came in the 15 minutes after halftime, as all 10 of their attempts in that period fell on-goal.