HANOVER, N.H. – Hat tricks from Jana Drummond and Alex Breiner brought the Oregon lacrosse team out of an early hole, but the Ducks were unable to completely erase their early deficit in a 12-10 loss to No. 18 Dartmouth on Wednesday.

Breiner and Drummond combined for six of UO’s goals on the day. Jess Drummond tallied two of her own while Nikki Puszcz and Bina Barrett scored the others for the Ducks, who drop to 4-4 on the season.

Kat Collins netted the first four goals of the game to put the Big Green up 4-0 with only 5:50 gone by. Jana Drummond ’s first marker of the day put the Ducks on the board at the 9:06 mark, but DU countered with three-straight tallies to make it 7-1 with 11:41 remaining in the opening stanza.

Oregon answered the Dartmouth spurt with three-unanswered goals of its own as Breiner got herself on the board 22 seconds later. Drummond and Breiner continued the comeback by each converting free-position attempts, cutting the deficit to 7-4 with 7:41 to go in the first half.

It appeared that UO would remain down three going into the break, but DU scored two goals in the final 22 seconds of the first half to extend its halftime lead to 9-4.

Drummond’s hat-trick goal brought the Ducks closer 4:13 into the second half, her 20th tally of the season, but the Kirsten Goldberg put the Big Green back up five on a free position attempt three minutes later.

Three-straight UO tallies made it a 10-8 contest as Jess Drummond found the back of the net twice and Puszcz made it 10-8 with 9:27 remaining in the game.

Collins and Goldberg appeared to put the contest out of reach with the latter goal making it 12-8 with 3:32 left. However, Oregon trimmed the deficit back to two on goals by Barrett and Breiner to give the Ducks a shot with 1:34 to play.

UO took the ensuing draw control and created a scoring opportunity with 29 seconds left, but the shot sailed high and DU was able to clear to secure the victory.

Oregon outshot Dartmouth, 29-25, and held a 24-17 advantage in ground balls. DU did win the turnover battle, 20-14, while draw controls were even at 12 apiece.

Salliebeth Finnegan took the loss after turning away eight of 19 Dartmouth shots in 57:25 in goal. Caroline Federighi allowed one goal while clocking 2:35 in the crease.

All four of Oregon’s losses have come against teams that were either ranked or receiving votes in the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches’ Association poll. Three of the setbacks have come by two goals or less.

The Ducks are back on the field on Friday when they take on Vermont. Opening draw is at noon (3 p.m. Eastern).