WINCHESTER, Va. - For the second straight game, the Shenandoah University women's lacrosse team saw its USA South Conference opponent stage a second half rally and steal an important conference contest.

Shenandoah (7-5, 2-3 USA South) held a three-goal lead early in the second half Thursday afternoon against Christopher Newport, but the Lady Captains (7-7, 5-0 USA South) reeled off six straight goals to win 9-7.

With the win, CNU clinches its first ever outright regular season title. They will have a bye in the first round of next week's conference tournament and will face the winner of the No. 3 Methodist vs No. 6 Averett contest in Saturday's first semi-final.

SU will host No. 5 Ferrum in a Tuesday quarterfinal beginning at 4:00. FC got the No. 5 spot with an 8-7 victory over Averett Thursday afternoon. No. 3 Methodist hosts Averett in the other first-round game while Greensboro claims the second bye as the No. 2 seed.

Shenandoah jumped out quickly in Thursday's game against the Lady Captains - sophomore Melissa Bryant scored just 36 seconds into the game on a free-position shot and led 3-1 by the 19:24 mark.

After CNU tied the game at 3-3, the Hornets scored at the 1:53 and 1:35 marks to take a 5-3 lead into the halftime lockerroom.

Sophomore Erika Bradd extended this lead to 6-3 with a goal off of a Kelly Matagiese assist 2:01 into the second, but this would prove to be Shenandoah's high-water mark.

The Lady Captains scored the next six goals in a span of 13:35 to take a 9-6 lead with 6:13 remaining. The tying goal came at 15:01 on Kristen Conques' second of three goals while Sally Allstadt got the game winner off of a Conques assist with 8:59 remaining.

SU attempted to rally with a Joia Davis tally with 3:30 remaining, but the Hornets could get no closer than a Bradd free position attempt in the waning moments.

Bradd led the hosts with three points on a goal and two assists while Bryant had two goals. Conques led all scorers with three goals and one assist.

Box Score