Box Score
DEMOREST, Ga. – The Otterbein University women's lacrosse team opened its season with a loss Sunday afternoon, falling by a score of 12-6 at Piedmont College on the first of a three-game trip.

Piedmont (3-2) jumped ahead early, scoring just 34 seconds into the matchup and then moving the gap to 4-0 by the 17:17 mark of the first half. Otterbein eventually got on the board thanks to a free-position goal from senior Katy Williams, and later went into halftime down 7-3 after neither team score in the final nine-plus minutes of the opening period.

Freshman Ema Pusecker netted her first-collegiate goal a few minutes into the second half, but the host Lions countered with three-straight goals to carry a 10-4 advantage into the final 15 minutes.

Williams finished with a game-high four goals for Otterbein, which also got a one-goal, one-assist effort from Pusecker and a goal from sophomore Abby Smoot. Goalie Tasha Williams made seven saves in her debut.

Piedmont had four players register multi-goal games, led by a hat trick from Caitlin O'Brien. The Lions finished with a 24-17 shot advantage and both sides split the draws at 10-10.

The Cardinals will continue the Georgia trip Tuesday afternoon, heading to Berry College for a 7 p.m. start time.