SPARKS, Md. – In an early season matchup of highly ranked teams, No. 13 ranked Bentley University dropped its season opener to No. 12 ranked Grand Valley State on Monday afternoon at the US Lacrosse complex in Maryland.

Senior attacker Hannah Lindgren (Southborough, Mass./Algonquin) led the Bentley offense with two goals and 11 shots. While Ellie Shuman (Nashua, N.H./Nashua North), Paige O'Neill (Amityville, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) and Kathleen Gillespie (Topsfield, Mass./Masconomet) also had goals for the Falcons.

Bentley trailed 8-3 at halftime, but scored the opening goal of the 2^nd half off the stick of O'Neill about four minutes in, to cut into Grand Valley's lead. The Lakers extended their lead back to five goals at the 22:32 mark with a goal from attacker Kelly Fitzgerald.

A goal for the Falcons by Lindgren, off a free-position shot, with 17:46 remaining got them to within four goals again at 9-5. However, Bentley was unable to get any close as Grand Valley scored the game's final four goals to pull away.

Bentley's goals in the first half came from Gillespie, in a man-up situation, Shuman, and Lindgren in the final two minutes of the half.

The Falcons (0-1) will complete their Maryland trip on Wednesday against another ranked team. They'll face No. 8 Queens University, with game time set for 1:00 pm