ELMHURST, Ill. – Elmhurst Women's Lacrosse battled back from cold temps and an early deficit in the 2026 home opener at Langhorst Field, but would come up just short despite a fourth-quarter rally against Marian (Wisc.), 6-5, on Saturday afternoon.

Five different Bluejays would record their first goals of the early season, and Hannah Jacob would lead the team with two points on the day with a goal and assist.

The visiting Sabres would score four straight in the first half, opening with a pair of goals in the first quarter, and two more midway through the second for a 4-0 advantage. Elmhurst would get on the board before the halftime break, with Ashley Kay Sardon scoring the team's first goal of the year with 32 seconds on the clock.

Early in the third, the Jays pulled to within two after Jacob's goal, but Marian would answer with two goals within a minute to take a 6-2 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Jays responded in the fourth, beginning with a goal from Grace Lorkiewicz with 12:44 left to play. Alannah Williams found the back of the net with under ten minutes remaining, and Andrew Murtland made it a one-goal game with her score with 7:13 on the clock.

The Marian defense would hold on to remain in front down the stretch, holding Elmhurst without a shot over the final seven minutes of play.

The Bluejays will look to bounce back next Saturday, Feb. 28, when they head to Chicago to take on Illinois Tech, beginning at 12:00 p.m.