Mustangs Battle With UHSP; Fall in Fourth Quarter

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The Mustang women's lacrosse team held a lead at half for the first time in program history, but ultimately fall to UHSP, 9-8.

The game marked the fewest goals that the Mustangs had allowed in a game, as Scarlett Belle Martinez recorded 11 saves while only allowing the nine goals. The Mustangs and Eutectics would battle closely in the first quarter, with UHSP scoring the games first goal as Molly Biermann scored on a free position shot. The Mustangs would respond as Brooke Caffrey scored her first of the game less than a minute later. Ella Penke gave UHSP the lead right back, while Caffrey netted her second of the game to even the score with four minutes left. Mollie Lyon scored on a free position shot to give the Mustangs the lead after the first 15 minutes.

In the second quarter, Penke scored her second of the game just 90 seconds in to even the score at three. But 20 seconds later, Flora Jimenez took a feed from Lyon and went with the backhand to put it past the UHSP keeper to make it 4-3. Michelle Le would then even the game at four, before Caffrey fired off another two goals as the Mustangs held on to a 6-4 lead heading into the half.

UHSP then rallied for four unanswered in the second half, taking an 8-6 lead after 45 minutes of play. Following a Eutectic goal in the fourth, the Mustangs found themselves down three. Claire Ellsworth scored the first of her two on the day, taking a feed from Lyon to make it 9-7 with just three minutes left. With under a minute left, Ellsworth scored on a free position shot to trim the deficit to one, but ultimately the Mustangs could not complete the comeback, falling by one.

With the home portion of the 2025 schedule down, the Mustangs will next travel to St. Ambrose on Thursday in Davenport.