FERRUM, Va. – A four-run lead to start the match didn't hold up and the Linfield Wildcats wound up losing 14-12 to Ferrum College in a see-saw battle on a cool yet sunny Wednesday afternoon at the W.B. Adams Stadium on the Ferrum College campus.

First half
The Wildcats took control at the start of the match before the host Panthers worked themselves back into the match.
 
Linfield won the first four draw controls and scored each time, taking a 4-0 advantage in the first 3½ minutes before Ferrum could advance the ball out of its own half of the field.
 
Alex Jensen scored 23 seconds into the match, slotting the ball past Ferrum netminder Brittany Hall. Jensen won the ensuing draw control, leading to a goal 40 seconds later by Gabriella Moe.
 
After a third-straight draw control win, it was Genna Hughes picking up a goal off when the senior took a perfect pass from Jensen from behind the net. Hughes came back to score Linfield's fourth goal at the 27:43 mark.
 
Ferrum began working its way back into the match, with Kaitlyn Harley and Audrey Ramsey scoring the next two goals to make the score 4-2 at the 24:08 mark.
 
Moe added another goal at the 22:39 mark but Ferrum answered with two more goals of its own to cut the Wildcats' lead to 5-4.
 
The score was tied at 6 when Harley picked up her third goal of the half to give the Panthers a one-goal lead with 1:44 to left before intermission. Linfield had numerous attempts on net but Hall made multiple saves to close the half.

Second half
The 'Cats started the second half like they did the first, turning a one-goal deficit to a three-goal lead. Hughes added two goals and Moe contributed another point after taking an assist from Nathaly Sanchez. Maya Petersen took a nifty pass from Hughes and fired it past Hall, making the score 10-7 in favor of the 'Cats.
 
Audrey Ramsey and Kiani Mohica brought the score back to 10-9 for the Panthers. Both scored on free-position shots that got by Linfield goalie Epi Roldan-Rayo, who took over in goal to begin the second half.
 
Mohica scored again at the 14:23 mark on another free-position shot to knot the match at 10.
 
Both sides traded a goal before Ferrum built a two-goal cushion. Ashley McCallister scored at the 10:16 mark and Haley tallied 20 seconds later. Moe brought the 'Cats back to within one, 13-12, with 8:00 remaining. Ramsey potted her sixth goal of the match shortly after. And though Linfield was able to place shots on frame, the 'Cats could not put the ball into the back of the net.
 
Team totals
The match featured four ties and five lead changes and most of the stats reflected the tightly contested game. Linfield took more shots than the Panthers (26-23) and gained more draw controls (18-10). Both teams had 19 turnovers and generated six caused turnovers.
 
"We played with heart and sportsmanship and that's all I can ask for," said Linfield interim coach Brittany Hartmann.
 
Individually speaking
Hughes was Linfield's offensive catalyst with five goals and two assists. Moe added four goals on the day and Petersen contributed a pair of tallies while adding one assist. Jensen added a goal and an assist. Sanchez was credited with two assists. Ramsey was the Panthers' leading scorer with a match-high six goals.
 
Hall remained in the Ferrum net the entire match, facing 26 shots and making 10 saves. Duey and Rolday-Rayo shared the goalkeeping duties for the 'Cats, facing 23 shots. The pair combined for three saves.
 
Coach's comments
"I am very proud of our performance this week," said Hartmann, summing up the Wildcats' three matches in the Old Dominion State that included lopsided wins over Sweet Briar (20-2) and Hollins (21-2).
 
Next
The 'Cats return home to resume Northwest Conference play. On Saturday, Linfield (4-3 overall, 2-1 NWC) squares off against defending NWC champion George Fox at 1 p.m. at Maxwell Field.