The Massachusetts women’s lacrosse team came within five minutes of snapping its three-game losing streak against No. 13 Dartmouth yesterday in Hanover, N.H.

In a game defined by back-and-forth scoring and tough defensive play, the Minutewomen fell short; as the Big Green went on to win, 9-8.

UMass (1-4) never trailed in the game, until Kathleen Wallace scored the game-winner for Dartmouth (3-1) with just five minutes to play in regulation.

“We definitely feel like we won the game, despite the box score,” coach Alexis Venechanos said.”Overall, I am very proud with the way our team competed and played.”

UMass held the advantage in draws (14-5), but were not successful in securing ground balls or registering shots on goal – losing the shots on goal battle, 23-14.

“We did a great job winning the draw. Winning possession and on [the] attack, we took the shots we wanted to take so, as a coach, I couldn’t ask for anything more,” Venechanos said.

Three attackers scored in double figures for UMass, as Kaytlin McCormick, Melynda Zwick and Stephanie Hopkins all found the net. Defensively, Julie Papeleo caused two turnovers and two groundballs, including a turnover that gave possession back to the Minutewomen with just under a minute to play. But UMass was unable to get a shot off before time expired.

UMass came out strong offensively, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first eight minutes of the game. Zwick found Jeannettee Villapiano for the first score, while McCormick scored her first on the day less than five minutes later.

Midway through the first half, the Big Green answered with a pair of goals from Eliza Bennett (three goals) and Katherine Chiusano (three goals, one assist), before both teams added another pair of goals tying the game at 4-4 at halftime.

McCormick added her second goal four minutes into the second half, putting the Minutewomen up by one before Bennett added her second goal for the Big Green four minutes later, tying the game at five.

Zwick and Hopkins added back-to-back goals 18 seconds apart to put UMass up 7-5, attempting to put the game out of reach for Dartmouth.

After a Big Green goal, Zwick scored her third goal of the game to restore the lead to two with 17 minutes left to play.

But on a free position shot, Bennett recorded her 10th goal of the season to cut the lead to one, and Chiusano followed with a goal of her own to tie the game at 8-8 with just under six minutes remaining.

Just 48 seconds later, Wallace had the unassisted game-winner for Dartmouth.

“It was a back and forth game, some goals here, some calls there, but for the most part, this was a normal lacrosse game,” Venechanos said.

“I think moving forward this is a young team, and we are going to use this as a learning experience.”

David Brinch can be reached at [email protected].