WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. 3/15/10 – The Keene State College women's lacrosse team suffered its first loss of the season, dropping a 19-15 non-conference game to Clarkson (N.Y.) University at Lake Lytal Park in West Palm Beach on Monday.

Keene State's late second half rally against the Golden Knights fell short.   Trailing 14-8, the Owls outscored Clarkson 6-1 to get within one goal (15-14) on sophomore Samantha Benson's (Hampstead, N.H.) third goal of the game with 4:55 to play. The Golden Knights (1-0) scored the next four goals to go up 19-14.

Juniors Jill Kirk (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.), Jamie Albert (Southington, Conn.), and Emily Persano (Somers, Conn.) each had two goals for KSC (2-1).  Junior Lauren Sawyer (Westbrook, Me.), the LEC's offensive player of the week, finished the game with a goal and four assists.

Freshman goalies Christine Collins (Cheshire, Conn.) and Alyssa Marinaccio (Narragansett, R.I.) each played a half and registered five saves.

Keene State wraps up its play in the Spring Fling with a game against Mount Holyoke on Wednesday.