ALMA, Mich. - It was a tough way to end their first ever MIAA conference game, as the Trine University women's lacrosse team fell to Alma 18-6.

Trine (1-4) got into an early 6-0 hole that they were never able to recover from. Nearly nine minutes into the game, freshman Anne Mammel (Tecumseh, Mich./Tecumseh) finally got the Thunder on the board with her sixth goal of the season. Just 16 seconds later fellow freshman Bronti Belanger (Haslett, Mich./Haslett) found the back of the net for her eighth of the year.

A minute later, Alma would answer with another goal as they led 7-2. Sophomore Kassi Armstrong (Homewood, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) would score at the 13:47 mark on an assist from Belanger but less than 40 seconds later the Scots would answer again.

It seemed every time the Thunder would score Alma would have an answer. Mammel netter her second of the game at the 9:19 mark, but the Scots would tally another 30 seconds after.

After Alma scored their final goal of the half at 7:15, Trine junior Darcy Little (Williamsburg, Ohio/Williamsburg) would score twice, the last of which came with just 29 seconds left in the half to pull the Thunder within striking distance at 10-6.

That would be as close as Trine would get as they were shutout in the second half as Alma scored eight unanswered goals.

In goal for the Thunder, sophomore Grace Garrett (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) made nine saves and grabbed four groundballs.

Belanger led the way for the Thunder with a game-high six groundballs and six draw controls. Little also grabbed four groundballs while sophomore Taylor Gast (Akron, Ind./Tippecanoe Valley) nabbed three draw controls. Freshman Avery Van Ess (Holland, Mich./West Ottawa) led the Thunder defense with two caused turnovers.

For the day, Alma out-shot the Thunder 39 to 24, including 19 to 7 in the second half. Trine held a 16 to 10 advantage on draw controls, but the Scots would have 30 to 17 advantage on groundballs. The Thunder also struggled in clearing the ball and they converted on just 9 of 20 chances compared to Alma making 16 of 20 opportunities.

Trine will return to action on April 13 as they travel to Calvin for a 1:00 p.m. conference game.