WALLA WALLA, Wash.  A second-half surge brought Whitman back to within a goal late in Saturday's women's lacrosse season opener. But visiting George Fox snapped two scores between the pipes in the final minutes to escape with a 13-10 Northwest Conference victory over the Blues at the Whitman Athletic Fields.

Lindsay Schwartz, with three goals and two assists, and Sage Ali (three goals, one assist) led the attack for Whitman (0-1, 0-1 NWC). The Bruins (5-0, 3-0) were paced by a six-point afternoon from Jess Hanson (four goals, two assists).

The opener did not get off to the start that Whitman had hoped for as they surrendered the game's first goal and trailed throughout the opening 30 minutes that ended with the Bruins leading 8-4 at the halftime break.

Two quick goals in the opening two minutes of second-half action extended the Fox advantage to six.

Finally, though, the Whitman attack got on track.

Ellie Teare scored off an assist from Ali to bite into the deficit, and Schwartz converted a free position opportunity to pull the Blues to within four at 10-6.

Hanson assisted on a Madison Strickland goal to halt Whitman's mini-run, but that was only a temporary slowdown for a Blues attack that had found itself.

Ali scored three consecutive goals -- two were unassisted and the last off a Schwartz assist -- and then Schwartz scored an unassisted marker to bring the Blues to within a goal, 11-10, with 8:22 still on the clock.

Teare came up with the ensuing draw control and Whitman followed with three cracks at the tying goal.

A Schwartz shot was saved by Bruins goalkeeper Makaela Easterlin, but the netminder overthrew her outlet pass giving possession right back to the Blues.

An Ali shot drifted wide of the right post but Olivia Engle chased it down for one of her six ground ball pickups. Engle circled in front and put a short-range shot on frame only to have Easterlin come up with one of her 11 saves.

The Bruins raced down field and snuck a shot past Whitman goalie Kate Whittingham to create a two-goal cushion with 6:20 to play. And another Fox goal at 3:33 padded it again.

The Blues got off two more shots, both saved by Easterlin, in the final minutes but time ran out on the comeback attempt.

Whittingham finished the afternoon with seven saves, five in the second half as the Blues were rallying.

Engle's game-high total for ground balls led all players and helped Whitman win the battle on the ground with a 21-19 edge.

The Blues also ended with the advantage in draw control wins, 21-19.

Northwest Conference action continues Sunday for Whitman which takes on visiting Linfield College in a 1 p.m. contest at the Athletic Fields.