FREDERICK, Md.--Freshman midfielder Lauren Perzan tallied four goals and assisted on a fifth but the Hood College women's lacrosse team was unable to overtake the visiting Shenandoah University Hornets, falling 15-12 in a non-conference contest Friday afternoon at Thomas Athletic Field.

The Blazers fall to 0-3 while the Hornets improve to 2-4.

Both teams had to endure a steady downpour throughout the afternoon which made for sloppy playing conditions. Hood got off to a strong start though scoring the first three goals and keeping the Hornets off the scoreboard for almost 19 minutes. Brandy Noel, Rachel Loss and Liz Rakowski all added tallies to stake the home team to a 3-0 lead.

After a Shenandoah timeout, the Hornets finally got on the board at the 11:04 mark of the first half when Lauren Carpinello fed Kelly Matagiese on the right side. That score was the first of seven straight for the Hornets spanning both halves.

In the second half, Perzan notched back-to-back goals within a span of just 49 seconds to cut the deficit to 7-5. The native of Baltimore, Md., skillfully dodged through the Shenandoah defenders on the way to the cage and beat keeper Wendy Taylor to her right both times.

After Shenandoah's Arissa Malick netted the Hornets' eighth goal of the game at the 24:05 mark, Perzan struck again less than a minute later to register her first collegiate hat trick.

But the Hornets reeled off five of the next six goals to assume a 13-7 lead, their largest of the afternoon, midway through the stanza. Hood used a three-goal spurt to cut the lead to 13-10 as Loss, Rakowski and Christa Lundskow all found the back of the net. The Hornets matched the Blazers' scoring output the rest of the way and Shenandoah hung on for the victory.

Junior goalie Lauren Lieb recorded 11 saves for the Blazers while Taylor turned away 16 shots for the Hornets.

Hood returns to action Sunday when the Blazers host Wells College in their Atlantic Women's Colleges Conference opener at Thomas Athletic Field at 11 a.m.