DANVILLE, Ky. – The Rhodes field hockey team suffered a heart breaking loss in the Southern Athletic Association Conference Tournament Championship on Sunday to Centre College, 4-3.
 
The Lynx fall to 14-4 on the year, while Centre improves to a mark of 15-7 on the year.
 
Rhodes quickly fell behind as Centre got on the board at the five minute mark when Hayley Barker snuck a shot past the Rhodes goal keeper. In the 17th minute, Erin Mays extended the Centre lead when she found the back of the cage for the 2-0 lead.
 
The Rhodes offense couldn't be held quiet for long, when Christina DiFelice netted back to back goals in the 21st and 29th minutes, both assisted by Evy Royther, to knot the score at 2-2 all. The tied score would hold through the half.
 
In the second half, it was Centre who drew first goal, with a 55th minute score from Cole Jordan to take back the 3-2 lead. In the 65th minute Julie Gates notched another Colonels goal, with the Lynx trailing 4-2.
 
The Rhodes offense mounted a comeback when Royther scored a goal in the 69th minute, assisted by Kate Taylor. The Lynx effort was a little too late, as they fell to the Colonels 4-3.
 
The contest was a tight one in every category, with the Lynx edging the Colonels in shots, 25-19. Rhodes also edged Centre in penalty corners by a count of 11-2.
 
First-year Laura Eckelkamp got the start and was in goal all 70 minutes for the Lynx. While in the cage, Eckelkamp grabbed eight saves.
 
Rhodes earned two players to the All-Tournament team in Kate Taylor and Shauni Cowan.