LISLE, Ill. (Duhawks.com) - Eight unanswered goals to end the first half proved to be the difference in Saturday's Midwest Women's Lacrosse Conference contest, as Loras earned its first league win of the season, best Benedictine, 11-8. Renata Veljacic led the offensive charge scoring two goals and earning two assists while Katilin Siech totaled six ground balls and three caused turnovers.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
- After conceding the first two goals of the match, Sarah James found twine for her third of the season with 20:22 remaining in the half
- James' goal kickstarted a stretch of eight consecutive tallies for the Duhawks ... Of the eight goals, Olivia Flynn, Sarah Hanson and Nia Stompanato each scored twice
- Trailing by six, Benedictine was first to score in the second half, cutting Loras' lead to five at 8-3
- With 24:54 remaining, Veljacic netted her ninth goal of the season ... Less than 30 seconds later, Katie Kulas made it 10-3 with her third goal of the year
- The Eagles comeback effort included a string of five consecutive goals, the last of which shrunk Loras' lead to two
- For good measure, Flynn registered her 15th goal of the season as regulation ended, securing the Duhawks' first conference win of the season

NOTABLES
- Hanson needs one goal to secure 10-or-more goals in each of her seasons at Loras
- Kulas matched her assist total from a season ago, bringing her career total to eight
- Stompanato moved past 100 ground balls in her career

FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYER OF THE GAME - Kaitlin Siech
The senior defender helped anchor a unit that limited Benedictine to 14 shots on target while collecting six ground balls and causing three turnovers

UP NEXT
Loras travels to Waverly next Wednesday for a conference showdown against Wartburg. The Knights had their three-match win streak snapped on Saturday, falling to 0-2 in league play following a 10-4 loss to Aurora. First draw is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.