Although the final score was closer than it has been for the Columbia lacrosse team’s (3-7, 0-5 Ivy) first four conference matchups, it was still not to the Lions’ liking, as they fell to Brown, 11-7, on Saturday at Baker Field. After a 3-2 start to the season, the Light Blue has lost its last five games.

Columbia drew first blood on a free position shot by sophomore midfielder Megan Donovan after just three minutes of play, but the Bears answered with two goals of their own. The Lions were down early, but not out, as sophomore attacker Brittany Shannon scored with 16:41 remaining in the first half to tie the game. Brown once again responded by recording two more tallies, and the Bears took a 4-2 lead into the intermission.

Brown opened the second period by finding the back of the net, giving the Bears a three-goal lead — their greatest advantage to that point — but the Light Blue was not deterred. Columbia’s offense found its rhythm and rattled off three unanswered goals to once again even the score, and with 17:13 left in regulation, both teams had five tallies and were looking for more.

In the end, however, it was Brown that found the most offensive success. The Bears closed the game with a decisive 6-2 run and returned to Providence with a four-goal victory. Brown’s leading scorer and recent Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week, junior midfielder Lauren Vitkus, paced the Bears on Saturday with three goals, giving her a total of 18 tallies on the year. Meanwhile, freshman midfielder Gabrielle Geronimos had a hat trick for Columbia to up her season total to seven.

The Lions begin a Connecticut road swing against Yale on Wednesday. Game time is set for 3 p.m.