FREDERICK, Md. - The Hood College field hockey team had its rally fall short as the Widener University Pride won the Commonwealth Conference tilt 5-3. 

Before the game recognized the three seniors on the team playing their final home game: Madeline Birmingham (Manassas, Va. / Osbourn), Rachel Gannon (Church Hill, Md. / Queen Anne's County), and Ying Van Schaik (Easton, Md. / Gunston Day School). 

The Pride took the early lead with a goal three minutes into the game off of Meghan Garvey's stick. Devon Biglin corralled a loose ball and started a two on one charge, made a move around the keeper, and found Garvey all alone in front of the open cage. 

Birmingham tied the game at 1-1 off of a pass from Alexis Briscoe (Columbia, Md. / Long Reach). Off a saved shot, Briscoe collected the rebound and sent a cross to the near post and found the senior for her second goal of the year.

Widener responded with two goals in an seven minute span. Garvey scored her second of the game and then assisted on Samantha Balonis' goal to make it 3-1.

With the clock reading all zeros at the end of the first half, Hood had two corners and made the last one count. Birmingham was the inserter and sent the ball to Rachel Marlow (Thurmont, Md. / Catoctin), who set up Laura Lokey (Millville, N.J. / Millville) with a stick stop. Lokey then dished the ball to Emily Richardson (Sykesville, Md. / Century), who rifled the shot from the top of the arc into the cage to make it a 3-2 game.

The Pride started off the second half two goals in just under two minutes. One came 35 seconds into the half and the other 1:46 in.

Richardson cut the deficit to two with a penalty stroke at 42:49 to create some late game drama, but the Blazers could not get any closer. 

Along with her second and third goals of the year, Richardson recorded her team high 10th defensive save. The multi-goal game was the first of her career for the sophomore defender.

Van Schaik made eight saves on 13 shots. The effort was good enough to move her into third all-time for saves in Hood College history with 299. 

Maggie Kameris and Mikayla Ninos split time for Widener. Kameris made two saves on three shots in the first half, and Ninos played the second. 

The Blazers finish up the season with a game against Messiah on October 31.