FREDERICK, Md. - Senior midfielder Vicky Gracy (Bethel, Conn.) netted four goals while graduate student attacker Alexa Riggio (N. Massapequa, N.Y.) added a hat trick and one assist but it wasn't enough as the Western Connecticut State University women's lacrosse team was edged at Hood College, 12-11, in a non-conference matchup on Wednesday afternoon.

Mackenzie Demaio paced the Blazers with a game-high eight points on four goals and four assists. Julia Gregory contributed a hat trick.

All the categories on the final box score were nearly even. However, the hosts held a 12-9 advantage with less than three minutes remaining in the contest before the Wolves netted a pair to make it a single goal discrepancy. 

The Wolves broke the ice when Gracy found the back of the net on an unassisted marker 1:59 into the game. They would widen the lead to 3-1 to end the opening stanza as Gracy netted her second along with rookie attacker Isabella Pota (East Meadow, N.Y.) tickling the twine.

But Hood responded with a five-goal spurt to capture a 6-3 lead. Demaio tallied a goal with a player advantage, giving them an 8-4 halftime advantage. With a 9-5 lead in the third, WestConn answered as Gracy scored twice and junior attacker Savannah Kom (Danbury, Conn.) connected with the net, shrinking the deficit to 9-7 heading into the fourth. Riggio completed the hat trick with 1:36 left with a player advantage, setting up a dramatic final minute. But the Wolves were unable to convert the equalizer.

With the loss, WestConn fell to 4-2 overall while Hood improved to 2-5. The Wolves will look to bounce back when they head to Tufts University on Saturday, March 23 at 1 p.m.