SHIRLEY, N.Y. – Despite a career high six goals from senior Kelsey Howard (Scarborough, Maine/Scarborough), the Bentley women's lacrosse team dropped its season opener at Dowling 12-9 on Wednesday afternoon.

Howard had five goals in the first half alone, five of Bentley's six goals in the half, as the game was tied 6-6 at the break. Dowling though had a 6-3 advantage in the 2^nd half to pull away for the win in their season opener as well.

Junior Hannah Lindgren (Southborough, Mass./Algonquin) had a big game as well for Bentley with two goals and three assists, while freshman Melissa Makarius (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown East) had two assists.

Dowling led 6-4 in the final minute of the 1^st half, before Howard erased it with two goals in the final 37 seconds, the second of which came with just one second left on the clock to tie the score.

Dowling though opened the 2^nd half with four of the first five goals, coming in the first seven and a half minutes, to take a 10-7 lead. A free-position shot goal for Bentley by Erin O'Connor (Longmeadow, Mass./Longmeadow) got them to within two goals at 10-8 with 15:23 remaining, but that's as close as they could get the rest of the game.

Bentley now sets its sights on its home-opener, which is Tuesday against Grand Valley State.