ROME -- The Lady Hawks fell to Shepherd University 19-9 Wednesday evening at Ben Brady Field.

Shorter falls to 3-4 overall; while the Rams improve to 4-2 on the year.

The opening minutes were dominated by the defense as neither team could break through to score. Shepherd did, however, to take the lead at the 21:51 mark and followed it up was a goal three minutes later making it a 2-0 game. Crystal Marshall answered for the Lady Hawks; tallying three consecutive goals to give Shorter the lead 3-2. Only to have the Rams post five goals through ten minutes to retake the advantage, 7-3.

With 4:13 to go in the half, Shelby Beverly netted the first of two goals in the frame to cut into the lead; then the teams traded goals in the final minutes to take a 9-5 score into the break.

Shorter cut the lead to 9-6 with 23:13 to play in the game as Marshall tallied her fourth goal of the game on a pass from Beverly. Shepherd followed by added two goals, before Bethany Fevella posted her first goal of the year at the 17:46 mark. Alex Abbey netted a goal a minute later to make it a 12-8 game.

But, the Rams then put things out of reach for the Lady Hawks; using a 7-1 run to close out the game. Kari Chambers scored the final goal for Shorter with twenty five seconds remaining for the 19-9 final score.

In total, Shepherd outshot the Lady Hawks 31-17 and held the advantage 28-14 in shots on goal. The Rams tallied 27 ground balls in the game; while Shorter scooped up 25. Shepherd also led in the draw controls, 17-13.

Nicole Kube made 9 saves through 59:35 of play.

Shorter will return to action Saturday, March 21, as they travel to the University of Tampa for a 1:00pm start.