THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Cal Lutheran women's lacrosse erased a seven-goal deficit and rallied to tie the game late, but a last-minute goal lifted Whitworth to a 12-11 victory on Thursday afternoon at William Rolland Stadium.

After falling behind 11-4 midway through the third quarter, the Regals (3-7, 0-5) mounted a relentless comeback, completely flipping the momentum and dominating the final period. Cal Lu outscored the Pirates 5-1 in the fourth quarter, highlighted by a string of unanswered goals that brought the Regals back to life.

Sydney Shin and Josie Oparanaku led the charge, each finishing with four goals. Shin sparked the late surge with back-to-back scores, while Oparanaku delivered the equalizer with just under three minutes remaining to cap off the seven-goal comeback and knot the game at 11-11. With her performance, Oparanaku also made program history, becoming the first Regal to reach 100 career goals.

The Regals continued to press, but Whitworth answered with the decisive goal at the 1:31 mark, reclaiming a 12-11 lead. CLU had a pair of chances in the final minute, but was unable to convert as the Pirates held on to escape with the win.

Madison Soforenko added two goals, including a key score during the fourth-quarter run, while Sydnee Hill contributed a goal and an assist. Shin also dished out an assist to finish with a team-high five points.

Despite the slow start, Cal Lu showed resilience throughout, outshooting Whitworth 27-23 and holding a 15-10 advantage in draw controls. The Regals also edged the Pirates in ground balls 29-28, showcasing a gritty all-around effort in the comeback attempt.

Whitworth was led by Campbell Vincent's six goals, helping the visitors build an early cushion that ultimately proved just enough.

With non-conference play now complete, the Regals will shift their focus fully to SCIAC competition. Cal Lutheran returns to action on Saturday, April 4, hosting Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at 11 a.m.