ST. CHARLES, Mo. - The McKendree University women's lacrosse team opened the Great Lakes Valley Conference portion of its schedule here Saturday afternoon as the Bearcats fell 21-6 to ninth-ranked Lindenwood University at Hunter Stadium on the Lindenwood campus.

With the setback, McKendree fell to 4-6 overall and 0-1 in the league, while Lindenwood, who are the defending NCAA Division II National Champions. improved to 8-2 overall and 1-0 in the league. 

The Bearcats were outshot 40-20, but couldn't recover from the Lions scoring seven goals in each of the first two periods of the game to hold a 14-3 lead at the half. 

Junior attackers Kat Albrecht (Louisville, Ky./Eastern) and Sydney Tiemann (Eureka, Mo./Eureka) led the way offensively for the Bearcats with two goals, while Albrecht added an assist. The other two goals by the Bearcats were scored by freshman attacker Mya Cobb (Newburgh, Ind./Castle) and sophomore defender Maddie Dalonzo (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township). 

Albrecht and Tiemann have accounted for 74 of McKendree's 121 goals this season and 19 of its 27 assists on the year. 

The Bearcats scored the first goal of Saturday's game as Albrecht scored an unassisted goal just 32 seconds into the contest. Lindenwood, though, would respond with four straight goals over the next three-plus minutes to take a 4-1 lead in the game. 

Tiemann would bring the Bearcats within 4-2 following her first goal of the game with 9:26 left in the opening period. 

The Lions would answer Tiemann's goal by scoring the final three goals of the period, including Logann Eldredge scoring the final two goals of the period to give the Lions a 7-2 lead after the opening period. 

Cobb would score the Bearcats' third goal of the game just a little under five minutes into the second period to cut Lindenwood's lead to 8-3. The Lions would answer back by capping the period with six straight goals to take a 14-3 halftime lead. 

Albrecht opened the third quarter with an unassisted goal just 40 seconds into the third period to cut Lindenwood's lead to 14-4, but the Lions would score three of the final four goals of the period to hold a 17-5 lead heading into the final period. 

Tiemann would score the first goal of the fourth for the Bearcats, but Lindenwood would conclude the scoring with four straight goals to post the win. 

Albrecht had nine of McKendree's 20 shots, while Tiemann took six shots and graduate student midfielder Oriana Johnson (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) added three shots. 

Bridget Considine had five goals to pace Lindenwood, while Eldridge and Hennessey Evans added four goals. For the match, 11 different Lions scored a goal in the win. 

The Lions also had 10 assists in the game and caused 11 turnovers on the day. 

Lindenwood won the draw controls, 17-13 and also held a 16-12 edge in ground balls. Tiemann and Dalonzo each had three ground balls for the Bearcats, while Albrecht, Tiemann, Johnson and freshman attacker Sophia Scheller (St. Louis, Mo./Lafayette) each had three draw controls. 

Junior Clara Andrews (St. Louis, Mo./Nerinx Hall) played all 60 minutes between the pipes for the Bearcats and collected 10 saves and two ground balls. 

Eleanor Kast played all 60 minutes in goal for Lindenwood as she had 10 saves for the Lions. 

The Bearcats will return home to play two games next weekend as they open the homestand on Friday, April 8 with a 7 p.m. GLVC game against Maryville, before hosting Quincy on Sunday, April 10 at 12 p.m. for Senior Day.