After dropping its home opener to the Louisville Cardinals last week, the Binghamton University women’s lacrosse team hosted Big East foe University of Connecticut, hoping to get its first victory. But the Huskies had other plans. The Bearcats struggled to hold the ball in their possession, allowing the Huskies to score four unanswered goals to start the game, ultimately leading to a 16-12 Bearcats loss on Sunday afternoon.

“We could have executed better in the first half,” said head coach Tony Zostant.

The Bearcats struck back early as junior Beth Moore scored Binghamton’s first goal of the day, followed by another one in the back of the net courtesy of junior Siobhan Menz, making the score 4-2 midway through the first half.

It didn’t take long for UConn to respond; 40 seconds later the Huskies answered with a goal of their own. For the last 10 minutes of the first half both the Bearcats’ defense and offense dug deep and they outscored the Huskies 5-3. At halftime, the Bearcats were within striking distance, down only 8-7.

The Bearcats came out firing in the second half, riding the momentum they had gained from the first half and tied things up 8-8. Five minutes later Zostant’s squad took the lead for the first time in the game as sophomore Lis Zuern scored her third goal of the afternoon while goalie Lauren Scott was stopping shots on the other end.

“They executed much better in the second half,” Zostant said. “[Lauren] Scott played one of her best games. She did a good job seeing the ball and making the saves.”

Scott, who is a junior, had a total of seven saves in the game.

UConn took back the lead with three unanswered goals — a lead they would not relinquish. One factor that led to the downfall of the Bearcats was the draw control, where they were out-battled 22-8.

Zuern scored four goals for the Bearcats to follow up her previous game total of six goals. Zuern has been a power player for the Bearcats; she has scored 23 goals since her freshman year and was selected to the All-Rookie team for the America East. Junior Ali Castiglie added three more goals in the contest, freshman Kimberly McGeever netted two and freshman Kristin Stone topped it all off with a goal of her own.

The Bearcats are on the road for the first time this season as they take on Canisius this Wednesday. Last season, the Bearcats lost a heartbreaker to Canisius at home, 12-11. Face-off is set for 4 p.m.