CLEARWATER, Fla. – Opening their season at the Countryside Complex in Florida, the Emmanuel women's lacrosse team (0-1) fell in a non-conference tilt to the John Carroll University Blue Streaks (4-0), 17-9, on Tuesday morning.

Reigning Great Northeast Athletic Conference Midfielder of the Year Madeline Wright wasted no time putting the Saints on the board, burying a man-up goal just 36 seconds into the match. John Carroll responded with back-to-back goals to take an early lead, but Wright struck again, leveling the score at 2-2 with her second goal of the morning off a feed from Ella Marschitz at the 9:32 mark. The two sides were level again at 3-3 but the Blue Streaks took control in the final two minutes, pulling ahead with two goals to lead 5-3 after one.

After the Blue Streaks' sixth goal of the day, the Saints looked to close the gap. First-year Emilia Ferraro scored her first career goal, cutting the deficit to two. John Carroll responded with three straight goals to end the half, including two from Kenzie Krom, extending their lead to 9-4 at the break.

Ella Stein netted her second goal of the day less than a minute into the second half, trimming the Saints' deficit to four. The Blue Streaks responded with another strong finish, tallying the next three goals while silencing the Emmanuel attack to stay in control with a 12-5 lead heading into the fourth.

Emmanuel cut the lead to six twice in the fourth period but couldn't get any closer. John Carroll led by as many as nine, ultimately securing a 17-9 win in Florida to stay unbeaten through their first four games.

Madeline Wright led the Saints' attack with three goals, while Ella Stein and Dejaliyah Srimouksavanh each added two. Srimouksavanh also tallied a game-high five ground balls and three caused turnovers.

Samantha Usterbowski and Kathleen Cagney paced the Blue Streaks with four goals apiece. Emily Van Gorder anchored the defense with three caused turnovers, and Rachel Kroeger played all 60 minutes in net, making 12 saves to secure the win.

Up next, John Carroll stays in Clearwater for a Thursday (3/6) matchup against Chatham University at 11:30 AM. Emmanuel also continues its Florida trip, facing Bridgewater College at Phillip Jones Field on Thursday at 9:00 AM.