TACOMA, WASH.— The Pacific Lutheran University women's lacrosse team dropped their home opener late 8-5 to the Southwestern University Pirates Friday Night.

PLU would match up with the Pirates for the first time in program history. As team 002 entered this season looking to make their mark on the new program.

"I am so excited for this group and to keep building with them," Head Coach Melanie Rizzotti noted. "Kassie had a great game and made some major saves when it mattered. Gracie and Katrina were forces across in the midfield and their off ball presences and hustle is the kind of effort we are striving to maintain."

The game would being with both team trading possessions early in what was a defensive stalemate. The Pirates would strike first going up 1-0 early in the first. Emily Mejia would score the first goal of the season curling around the crease finishing with a low-bouncer for PLU from a feed from Issabella Marchio. Pirates would go up 3-1 at the half.

Lutes came out of the first half with a purpose Paige Hackman and Gracie Cecka dialed up the pressure in the midfield causing several turnovers pushing the tempo for PLU. Cecka would find Kathleen Swankowski early in third to bring the Lutes within one goal. Three minutes later Cecka would push the pace again finding Marchio down the alley to tie the game at 3-3.

A couple of late cards would have the Lutes down a player in the 4th, but PLU would still score with Swankowski finding the net again from Hackman and Marchio cashing in also from Peyton Terhar to tie the game at 5-5. Southwestern would take advantage of PLU's aggressive play and go on a 3-0 run to end the game.

Kassie Diller finished the contest with 12 saves, just below her average of 16.69 from last year. Lutes were led in points by Marchio with three points. Hackman led PLU with four caused turnovers and finished tied with seven ground balls with Cecka.

Lutes will be back in action next Friday, February 27th against Eastern Oregon University with opening draw scheduled for 5 PM.