MADISON, N.J. – The Drew University women's lacrosse team built an early four-goal lead, but Catholic University used a big second half to record a 17-8 victory in Landmark Conference play Thursday evening at a frigid Ranger Stadium.
 
The Rangers (7-4, 2-2 LC) led 7-3 with 6:39 left in the opening half and 7-5 at the intermission, but the Cardinals rallied with 12 second-half goals.
 
Junior Madi Strong posted two goals and one assist for Drew while senior Aubrey Welch scored a pair of goals. Sophomore Kristina Lowe picked up a career-high eight ground balls and recorded four caused turnovers and four ground balls, and sophomore Gianna Paz added three ground balls and three caused turnovers.
 
Sophomore Hayden Scotti contributed three ground balls and two caused turnovers for Drew, and senior Emily Monaco recorded five draw controls. Senior Paige Shaw recorded ni
 
Izzy Fiore paced Catholic (6-5, 4-0 LC) with five goals and two assists while Olivia Koch came off the bench to make 10 saves over the final 47 minutes.
 
The Rangers led 4-3 at the end of the first quarter after receiving goals from Welch, Scotti, Strong, and Gallaro in the opening period. Drew continued its early surge in the second quarter, when it tacked on three straight tallies to seize its aforementioned 7-3 lead. Freshman Regina Williams, Strong, and junior Grace Patane all found the back of the net during the stretch.sssss
 
The Cardinals, however, scored the last two goals of the first half to cut the gap to 7-5 at the intermission. Catholic potted the first three goals of the second half to take the lead before Welch tied it, scoring a free-position goal to make it 8-8. However, Catholic struck twice before the end of the quarter before the Cardinals put the game away with seven unanswered goals in the final period.
 
The Rangers continue their season on Wednesday, when they visit Wilkes University in another Landmark Conference affair starting at 7 p.m.