The Eastern University men's lacrosse team opened the 2010 season with three returning players on the field. With six freshmen in the starting line-up, the Eagles fell 8-2 on a frozen evening at Swarthmore College. The host Garnett broke open the game with four straight goals between the second and third period.

Despite a strong stand from the young Eastern University defense, Swarthmore scored the first two goals of the contest in the opening period. It looked as though the hosts might pull away further when the Eagles picked up a penalty early in the second period. For a second, the young Eastern squad turned the game on its head as freshman defender Ryan Cassidy checked a ball free. Michael Hofmeister, the lone senior starter for the Eagles, picked up the ball on the clear and fired an outlet pass to Matt Soldano flying down the right side. Still down a man, the Eagles attacked the Swarthmore back line, and Soldano found fellow freshman Zac Ivy on the edge of the crease. Ivy finished to cut the Swarthmore lead in half.

Swarthmore won the ensuing face-off and was able to convert their possession into a 3-1 edge. The hosts built their lead to 4-1 midway through the second period. The Eagles pressured the Swarthmore goal late in the first half, but senior goalie Kevin Friedenberg was up to the task for the hosts. The pre-season All-American made eight first half saves, and Swarthmore went to the break up 4-1.

The Eagles got their second goal of the night in the third period on a nice low finish from sophomore Matt Wagner on a pass from Hofmeister, but the Garnett held possession and scored in the waning seconds of the third to go into the final period up 7-2.

The Eagles showed flashes in the second half, but also showed their youth as they committed some costly turnovers to give possession back to the Garnett. After the game, Eastern Head Coach Brandon Childs said, "We showed some glimpses of what we are going to be, but they are too good at keeping the ball for us to make some of the mistakes we made. We have some things to build on as we head on Spring Break."

First year goalie Aaron Benz finished the day with eight saves.  

The Eagles will return to action on Wednesday evening against Randolph College.