WASHINGTON – The No. 21 Georgetown University women's lacrosse squad showed grit to the end, but fell 8-7 to the No. 8 Penn Quakers on Saturday afternoon at Franklin Field.  The Hoyas could not find the late equalizer to move to 5-2 overall while Penn improved to 6-0 overall. 
 
Senior midfielder Francesca Whitehurst (Baltimore, Md. / Roland Park Country School) led the way with three goals and three draw controls, while senior attacker Morgan Ryan (Maplewood, N.J. / Oak Knoll School) managed two goals in the contest.  Classmate Taylor Gebhardt (Baldwinsville, N.Y. / C.W. Baker) was the third Hoya with multiple points scoring a goal and an assist. Junior midfielder Natalia Lynch (Smithtown, N.Y. / Smithtown West) managed a goal and also pulled in a team-best four draw controls on the afternoon.   
 
The Hoyas outshot the Quakers 30-17 and picked up 18 ground balls to Penn's 12.  GU hauled in eight draw controls and allowed Penn just four in the game.  The defense was impressive forcing 17 Quaker turnovers.  On free position shots, the Hoyas went just 2 for 9, but senior goalkeeper Haelle Chomo (Naples, Fla. / Barron Collier) did not allow a Penn FPG.  Chomo saw all 60 minute in the cage with four saves in the game.
 
The Hoyas were dominant on the draw to begin the game, and Whitehurst put the Blue & Gray up early with a free position goal.  Despite the momentum, Penn answered back with a 3-0 run before Whitehurst could take it through traffic for her second of the contest. 
 
The Quakers responded, however, the Hoyas would not back down.  On a free position from Gebhardt, her shot was stopped and bounced where it was picked up by Ryan who spun around a defender and fired to make it 4-3 and spark a 3-0 run.  Less than two minutes later, Gebhardt would shoot low at the end of the shot clock to tie the game at four.  On the next possession, the defense came up with a stop as Chomo passed it to Lynch who took it the length of the field before perfectly executing the give-and-go to give the Hoyas the lead at 5-4 as the bench went wild.
 
The defense would stay strong as Georgetown went into the break leading by one.  It was a 3-0 run for the Blue & Gray as well as a 16-minute scoring drought for the Quakers.
 
Penn came out and scored on the first possession of the second half to tie it at five.  Following a long scoring drought by both teams, the Quakers retook the lead with a goal at 17:51.  Off of the draw, Whitehurst pulled it in and went down and scored to tie it right back at six.  GU quickly regained the advantage as Ryan connected on a free position, but Penn answered right back and forced a GU timeout.
 
It would be a defensive battle down to the end as neither team would find the back of the cage until Penn scored with 5:13 to go.  Georgetown looked to even the score with a huge opportunity just seconds before the final horn, but the shot was saved making the final 8-7.
 
The Hoyas will be back in action next Saturday as the squad continued its tough three-game road swing as it travels to No. 1 Boston College for a noon matchup.  Live stats and a webcast will be available at www.GUHoyas.com.