(LEBANON, Ill., April 24)--The McKendree University lacrosse team dropped its final home match of the season to conference foe Grand Valley State University by a score of 23-11 in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match-up Sunday afternoon at Leemon Field.

The loss moves the Bearcats to 8-7 overall and dips their GLIAC record to 6-4. McKendree returns to action Apr. 29 against the University of Findlay.

Sunday's game marked the final home contest for the inaugural class of the McKendree lacrosse program. Seniors Shirley Boland (St. Louis, Mo./Ursuline Academy), Rianne Holzmeyer (Hazelwood, Mo./Hazelwood West), Janelle Woods (Hazelwood, Mo./Hazelwood West), and Krystin Major (Arnold, Md./Indian Creek) wrapped up their careers in the purple and white.

Sophomores Dana DiPasquale (St. Charles, Mo./Barat Academy) and Paige Salthouse (St. Louis, Mo./Ursuline Academy) each tallied four goals for the Bearcats. Junior Bree Suter (Westminster, Md./Winters Mill) added a pair of assists, and sophomore Mia Fiore (Eureka, Mo./Eureka High School) collected a match high seven draw controls to aid the McKendree offense.

Junior goaltender Amy Porta (Ellisville, Mo./Marquette) made 13 saves for the Bearcats.

Salthouse got McKendree on the board just over 20 seconds into the match to give the Bearcats the lead. The Lakers responded with three straight to turn things back in their favor. McKendree battled back with a trio of goals from Salthouse and another from DiPasquale to tie things at five, but Grand Valley closed the first half on a 7-2 run to open a 12-7 edge.

The Lakers continued to roll in the second half boosting their lead to 17-8. The Bearcats countered with a 3-1 run to close the lead to 18-11, but couldn't solve the Grand Valley offense and fell by 12.