MELBOURNE, Fla. – The nationally ranked No. 4 University of New Haven women's lacrosse team fell in a defensive battle to the No. 5 LIU Post Pioneers 7-5 in a non-conference contest on the campus of Florida Tech on Saturday afternoon.
 
With the win, the Pioneers improve to 3-1 while the Chargers are now 2-1.
 
Corinne Fisher (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial) led the way for New Haven, scoring three goals and winning two draw controls. Nicole Belanger (Kinnelon, N.J./Kinnelon) added two goals. Alyssa Gianotti (Monkton, Md./Hereford) led the defense with 11 saves.
 
The Chargers opened the scoring as Belanger found the back of the net a little more than five minutes in off a feed from Caitlin O'Brien (Branford, Conn./Branford). It would be the team's only goal of the opening frame, however, as LIU Post took a 4-1 lead into halftime.
 
In the second period, New Haven came out firing as Fisher scored twice in a span of two minutes, the second one coming at the 26:43 mark to pull within 4-3. After a Pioneers' tally, Fisher netted her third of the game with 16:07 to go, trimming the deficit to 5-4.
 
LIU Post answered with 11:11 remaining in the contest, but three minutes later, Belanger recorded her second goal of the game to make it 6-5. After neither team cracked the scoreboard in the next six minutes, the Pioneers sealed the game with a goal coming at the 2:14 mark.
 
For the game, New Haven outshot LIU Post 22-21 and held a 13-12 advantage in ground balls.
 
The Chargers return to action on Monday, March 14 when they will take on Florida Tech. Opening Draw at Panther Stadium in Melbourne, Fla. is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.