SALISBURY, Md. – The fourth ranked Salisbury University women's lacrosse team fell to fifth ranked Middlebury College, 11-6, in a battle of two top-five teams on Monday afternoon.

The two teams went back and forth in the first half before Middlebury (5-1) took control in the second frame.

Emma Skoglund started the scoring on a feed from Lindsey Wagner before the Panthers responded with a goal 41 seconds later. Courtney Fegan gave the Sea Gulls (7-2) the lead right back just 31 seconds after Middlebury tied it 1-1, converting on the first of her three free position goals in the game.

After the Panthers tied the game 2-2, Fegan notched her second goal of the game to make it 3-2 less than nine minutes into play.

Middlebury rattled off three straight goals, however, including two man-up goals, to take a 5-3 lead. Wagner brought the Sea Gulls back within one on an unassisted marker, while Skoglund tied the game at five on an assist from Alexis Strobel.

The Panthers regained the lead with just over five minutes remaining in the first half to go up 6-5 heading into halftime.

After the break, Middlebury took control by scoring four straight goals and outscoring Salisbury 5-1 in the frame. The lone goal came midway through the half on a free position shot from Fegan.

Kendall Bannan and Morgon Von Schmidt turned in solid performances on the defensive end for the Sea Gulls, as Bannan caused four turnovers and came up with three groundballs, while Von Schmidt caused three turnovers and scooped up four groundballs.

Salisbury returns to action on Wednesday, March 27 as the Sea Gulls travel to take on No. 6 Franklin & Marshall College at 4 p.m.