FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - The NC Wesleyan College lacrosse team battled hard, but ran out of gas in their 18-8 loss at conference foe Methodist University on the road Monday evening.

Wesleyan used a goal apiece from senior midfielder Ali Cucinotta and freshman attacker Blaire Harley to trail just 3-2 after the first 15 minutes of the game. MU would then score 5 of the next 6 goals to take an 8-3 lead at halftime even as the Lady Bishops took a 12-10 lead in shots.

MU scored all of their first half goals off Wesleyan first-time goalie Alissa Avery. She was then replaced in the second half by sophomore Brionna Beamon who went on to make 2 saves but allowed 10 goals in the second half in only her third time as goalie. 

Cucinotta and junior midfielder Madeline Graham would then begin the second half scoring 2 of the first 4 goals of the game to get wesleyan within five at 10-5 with 20 minutes to play. But that would be as close as they would get the rest of the way as they even added two more goals to get to 13-7 with 14 minutes to play. The 7th goal was scored by sophomore Ayanna Walker for her first goal foi the year and assisted by senior Alissa Avery for her first. MU would then go on a 5-1 run to end the matchup.

NCWC falls to 2-7 overall and 0-3 in conference while MU improves to 3-3 and 1-1 in conference.

Cucinotta led the Bishops with 5 goals and one assist along with winning 8 draw controls and gaining 8 ground balls. Harley would also win three draws, force two MU turnovers and score a goal while Graham added a goal and an assist along with 4 caused turnovers and 4 ground balls. 

Defensively, senior Samantha Valeros led the team with 5 caused turnovers and 5 ground balls while junior defender Aydriyan Upchurch picked up four GBs, won a draw and forced two turnovers. Wesleyan also finished the game outshooting the Monarchs 27-25.

The Bishops will return to action on Wednesday to face Meredith College at 6 PM.