THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. --- Linfield women's lacrosse (3-5, 1-0 NWC) began their Southern California spring break trip on Monday, as their comeback efforts came up short against Cal Lutheran (4-6, 0-5 SCIAC), 12-8.
 
Cal Lutheran put the pressure on early, firing four shots in the first 2:46 of the game, earning senior goalkeeper Tenley Hodge a pair of saves, on her way to recording a season-high 12 in the game. 
 
Gabby Crist and Maizri Chandler took the Wildcat's first attempts of the game but were unable to get past the keeper. The Regals opened the scoring with back-to-back goals with four minutes to play, taking a 2-0 lead into the second quarter.
 
Linfield scored in the closing seconds of a man-up advantage early in the second, as Heidi Schaefer found Apple Riso for the 'Cats first goal of the game. Cal Lutheran added two more before Madison DeLaTrinidad found Riso for her second goal of the game with 5:49 left. Once again, the Regals tacked on a pair of scores, but Evelyn Cross assisted on Crist's first goal of the game with a minute before halftime, making it 6-3 at the break.
 
The Regals struck first in the third as Linfield got into foul trouble early. Savannah Irwin and Gabby Crist cut into the deficit, scoring the last two goals of the quarter to make it 7-5 entering the fourth in striking distance.
 
Cal Lutheran held a three-goal lead early on, but the Linfield offense failed to go away. Chandler and Crist combined for two goals to make it a one-goal deficit with 10:49 to play. Both teams traded goals in the seventh minute, but the Regals stalled the 'Cats comeback hopes by scoring three goals down the stretch to pull out a 12-8 win. 
 
Crist led the 'Cats with three goals and two assists on 10 shots on goal. She also added a team-high five ground balls and four caused turnovers. Irwin and Riso added two goals each as well, while Madison DeLaTrinidad and Evelyn Cross also picked up five ground balls. Tenley Hodge set a new season-high with 12 saves on 30 shots faced. 
 
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