Denver, Colo. -- A 6-3 halftime advantage wasn't enough for the top-ranked Adelphi University women's lacrosse team, who fell victim to a furious second-half rally by the Florida Southern Mocs en route to dropping the program's first NCAA Division II National Championship game, 8-7.

The Panthers (21-1) fall to 7-1 all-time in national title games as their bid for a second three-peat was halted by Mocs, who became the first national champion out of the Southern Region. The Mocs scored five straight goals to open the second half and turn the game around from 3-6 to 8-6, beginning early in the period as Adelphi fell two players down on penalties -- including one to goalie Taylor Hayes. 

The Mocs had the first opportunity in the game to score, as they were awarded a free-position shot just 1:09 into the game. However, Hayes made the stop, and the Panthers turned back around on offense to score the opening goal of the game off the stick of Michele Scannell. The Mocs tied it up at 1-1 off a goal from Cayla Shawfield, but Camille Rosellini won the draw and Rachel O'Brien scored just 17 seconds later to put Adelphi back ahead, 2-1. 

Beth Ann Pierce scored at the 20-minute mark to put Adelphi up a pair, as the Panthers outscored the Mocs 3-2 to the end of the half, and Emily Keesling went back-to-back over the course of the final five minutes to put the Brown and Gold ahead 6-3 at the break.

However, the tide started to turn at the start of the second half, and the Mocs scored two straight goals as Adelphi found themselves two players down after a penalty to Hayes. The first scored on an empty net and the second got past Hailey Peterson to bring it to a 6-5 game with 22:04 to play. That led to three more unanswered goals for the Mocs, as Adelphi was unable to convert on any of their offensive opportunities. 

However, the Panthers got on the board in the second half with 7:22 remaining, as Kate Beier took a pass from O'Brien into the back of the cage to make it an 8-7 contest. From that point, Adelphi was unable to find the equalizer, as the tournament's Most Outstanding Player Taylor Gillis made eight saves in the Mocs' net in the game. With the Mocs holding possession in the final two minutes, Flordia Southern ran down the clock for their first National Championship.

 Keesling,  Scannell and Camille Rosellini were named to the All-Tournament Team for their efforts.