The Hamilton College women's lacrosse team opened its season Saturday with a 10-9 loss to visiting Colby in a match-up of nationally ranked NESCAC programs at Steuben Field. The Mules, ranked 15th nationally, rallied for the win thanks to seven straight goals and held off a late Continental burst for the victory.

Hamilton, ranked 13th nationally, held a pair of three-goal leads in the first half including a 6-3 advantage with 3:24 left in the opening period. The Mules scored twice heading into intermission than notched five straight in the first 5:25 of the second half to go up 10-6.

The Continentals scored three times in the final 13 minutes to close to within a goal but their two shots in the final minute were saved and the Mules ran out the clock for the win.

Morgan Fletcher '17 and Margaret Gabriel '16 scored in the final 4:31 as Hamilton pulled to within 10-9. The Continentals were awarded the ensuing draw control after a Colby foul and had their first attempt at the tying goal thwarted when Colby's Izzy Scribano made a save with 51 seconds left.

Fletcher forced a Colby turnover at the sideline and teammate Jackie Cuddy '18 picked up the ground ball to set the Continentals up for another chance at the equalizer. Hamilton was awarded a free-position shot with 20 seconds remaining in regulation but Scribano came up with the save, preserving the win for the visitors.

Scribano finished with nine saves and led the Mules with four ground balls.

Darby Philbrick '18 scored twice in Hamilton's opening salvo; the Continentals took a 5-2 lead 19 minutes into the game.

After Philbrick opened the scoring with the first of Hamilton's four free-position goals, Kara Pooley '19 picked up her first collegiate goal.

The Mules started their decisive run with 65 seconds left in the first half. Lexie Perticone fed Abby Hooper for a goal to make the score 6-4, then set up Kendall Smith 17 seconds later to cut the Colby deficit to one.

With Hamilton a player down in the opening minutes of the second half, the Mules tied the score on a goal by Perticone 1:12 in. Less than a minute later, a foul on Hamilton's goaltender set Colby up with a free-position shot on an empty net and Gemma Bready capitalized to give the Mules their first lead.

The Mules extended their advantage to four as Swaffield and Perticone both scored their second goal of the game sandwiched around a free-position goal by Kelsey Bowen.

Hannah Rubin '17 stopped four shots for the Continentals over the first 38 minutes. Hannah Burrall '19 held the Mules scoreless the rest of the way in her collegiate debut.

Fletcher paced Hamilton by picking up three ground balls and was credited with four of Hamilton's 15 caused turnovers. Pooley had three and also won a team-best three draw controls.

Swaffield led all players with four draw controls and Jackie Brokaw caused three turnovers.

Hamilton returns to action Wednesday with a 4:30 p.m. game at William Smith.