LAKELAND, Fla. – The No. 7 UIndy women's lacrosse team dropped its Spring Break opener in the Sunshine State on Tuesday evening, falling to fourth-ranked Florida Southern by a score of 15-12.
 
Junior Olivia Bladon turned in her fourth hat trick of the season, totaling five goals in the top-10 contest.
 
Florida Southern now leads the all-time series, 2-1.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Bladon followed a goal from Sage Da Silva late in the opening quarter to knot the game at three apiece before the host Mocs ran away from the Greyhounds in the middle frames, 11-3.
 
Florida Southern netted seven goals in the second period to build the insurmountable lead. Malaena Michielin joined Bladon and Da Silva with scores during the stretch, all of which were unassisted.
 
The Hounds picked up some momentum in the final 15 minutes. After Bladon's fourth-quarter hat trick, Ella Fornek tallied two of her own to enter the scoring column. Kendall Conrad tacked another on with just three seconds left and has now scored in five of her first six collegiate games.
 
UIndy outscored Florida Southern in the fourth quarter, 6-1.
 
INSIDE THE BOX
- UIndy's ride was top notch on Tuesday, forcing seven turnovers on the FSC clear…more than the Mocs had committed in their first six games of the season.
- Da Silva secured a career-high five draws controls, leading the team in the category.
- Eight Greyhounds recorded a single caused turnover, including Caroline Krauch. The senior also paced the team with three ground balls.
- The defensive trio of Amanda Hurry, Hollis Rang, and Mariah Whitfield combined for four ground balls and three caused turnovers, with each totaling at least one CTO and GB.
- Florida Southern nearly doubled up UIndy in the draw circle, 19-10.
 
UP NEXT
The Greyhounds visit No. 1 Tampa on Thursday morning at 11 a.m. It will mark the teams' fifth-ever meeting with the winner breaking the even series.