ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Hamline lacrosse team (3-4, 1-0 MWLC) took a break from their conference schedule on Thursday night, hosting regional opponent UW-River Falls at Klas Field, falling 17-5.
 
The Pipers used the non-conference game as an opportunity to honor their four senior student-athletes - Maria Lewis, Ashley Hessler, Tara Westerlund, and Alyssa Bryan-Jeffries.
 
The seniors had a solid game for HU, as Lewis and Hessler recorded points, Westerlund led the Pipers in draw controls with four, and Bryan-Jeffries made 12 saves in net. Hessler led the Pipers in points with three assists throughout the contest.
 
The Falcons proved to be stronger offensively in the game, however, getting out to a 5-0 lead in the first half and not looking back from there.
 
Lewis was the first to score for the Pipers, finishing a pass from Hessler with 11:37 left to go in the first half, making it 5-1. UW-River Falls answered with a goal of their own less than a minute later, but Hamline would find the back of the net a little while later as well, keeping within striking distance at 6-2.
 
The Falcons finished the half in impressive fashion, though, getting four of the last five goals to take a 10-3 lead into the intermission.
 
They carried that offensive momentum into the second half, scoring four goals within the first eight minutes to make it 14-3.
 
Hamline would score twice more before the end of the game, with sophomore Taryn Leonard scoring with 18:25 left and Maya Hernandez getting the final goal with eight minutes to go, making the final 17-5.
 
HU will return to MWLC play this weekend, heading to Loras for a Sunday game that is set to start at 11:00 a.m.