The Culver-Stockton women's lacrosse team battled defending NAIA national champion and eighth-ranked Benedictine College all day before succumbing 20-10 in a Heart of America Athletic Conference game at Poulton Stadium Thursday afternoon.

Despite being outshot 40-21 and having a draw disadvantage of 28-6, the Wildcats hung in with the Ravens by forcing 17 turnovers and taking advantage of free position shots.

C-SC scored six of its 10 goals off of free position shots while holding the visitors to just 1-for-4 in the free position. Melanie Sanchez scored three of her team high four goals from the free position, while Sophia Vomund netted two of her three tallies on free position shots.

The Wildcats recorded 21 shots overall and had 16 shots on goal. Meanwhile, the Ravens totaled 40 shots overall and had 29 shots on goal. C-SC goalkeeper Jillian Vervynck made nine saves in the game.

C-SC was in danger of having a running clock put on them in the second quarter when they trailed 12-3 with two minutes remaining in the half. However, goals by Vomund and Raina Richard in the final minute got the hosts to within 12-5 at the break.

Sanchez added another goal early in the third quarter to make it a 12-6 Raven lead before the Ravens netted a goal to get the lead back seven goals. C-SC then got goals from McKayla Nevarez and Sanchez to bring the deficit to 13-8 with eight minutes left in the third quarter.

Benedictine answered with three straight goals to up the lead to 16-8, but the Wildcats battled back with two goals at the start of the fourth quarter to get back to within six goals. However, the Wildcats wouldn't score again as the Ravens added four more goals to secure the victory.

C-SC, now 5-5 overall and 1-2 in the Heart, is scheduled to play at Clarke University on Wednesday, April 12. Game time is set for 4 p.m. in Dubuque, Iowa.