DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Kutztown University women's lacrosse team fought back from a three-goal halftime deficit to pull even in the second half, but Embry-Riddle scored four straight and held on for a 16-13 non-conference victory Tuesday in Daytona Beach, Florida.
 
The Golden Bears (2-3 overall) will be happy to return to their home field where they are undefeated this season, having won both games they've played on the new turf.
 
Destanee Watkins (Emmaus, Pa./Emmaus) and Morgan Hurd (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) both had hat tricks and Hannah Brewster (Denton, Md./North Caroline) recorded two goals to pace the KU offense. Erin Vaughan Ware (Seaford, N.Y./MacArthur) contributed two assists.
 
Following an opening goal by the Eagles (5-2) 2:29 in, Allie McCormick (West Deptford, N.J./West Deptford) tied the score at 1-1 3:04 later. But Embry-Riddle went on a 4-0 run and held a game-high, four-goal lead twice at 5-1 and 6-2, and led 8-5 at halftime.
 
Brewster opened the second-half scoring for the Maroon and Gold, who tallied four of the first five second half goals to tie the score at 9-9 with 22:58 remaining. But the Eagles netted four consecutive goals in a 4:57 span to lead 13-9 with 16:12 left to play. KU pulled to within one (13-12) with 12:38 to go. But three straight Eagles goals put the game away.
 
McCormick, Devon Fitzpatrick (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee), Cyrose Conteh (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown), Lesley Lane (Jamesburg, N.J./Monroe Township) and Vaughan Ware all found the back of the net once for KU. Hurd, Conteh, Cyla Cafferata (Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Sachem North) and Megan Kerr (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) each recorded an assist.
 
Kutztown hurt itself in the penalty category as it was called for 15 fouls compared to Embry-Riddle's six.
 
Kutztown will begin Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) competition in its next game this Saturday, March 14, hosting Bloomsburg at 1 p.m., at Keystone Field.