ST. DAVIDS, Pa.- Eastern University Lacrosse dropped a 13-9 decision to Goucher College. The visiting Gophers scored five unanswered goals in a six minute stretch in the second period to take a 6-2 lead, and they held off a late charge for the win. Dave Darling scored five times for the Eagles.

Less than four minutes in, Eastern jumped to a 1-0 lead on an unassisted tally from Will Johnson, but Goucher's Max Roach tied the contest at 1-1 on a pass from Kyle Boncaro less than a minute later. The game remained knotted at 1-1 through the first period, but Eastern goalie Aaron Benz was by far the busier of the two keepers. Benz recorded 6 of his 12 saves in the opening 15 minutes, and the Eagles man-down unit was able to hold the Gophers for thirty seconds down a pair of players.

The second period started well for the Eagles as Ron Johnson scored a highlight reel goal off a a great feed from Matt Soldano. Goucher then put together the decisive run of the game as Rory Averett scored three times and John Curry and Zach Fratella also tallied. Even in the midst of the Goucher rally, AJ Ryan was winning face-offs for the Eagles. The sophomore face-off specialist had his best day from the dot with 18 of 26 won. He won 5 of 7 in the second period, but the Eagles committed 7 turnovers Goucher scored on five of eight shots.

Darling scored three times in the third period, but the Eagles could only make up a single goal as Matt Lynch scored twice for the visitors. Darling scored the final goal of the period in the waning seconds following a great clear from Ron Johnson.

Fratella scored a pair of goals 14 seconds apart to spark another five goal burst from the guests and to force an Eastern timeout. Out of the timeout, the Eagles scored four in a row to close out the game. Ron Johnson scored from Zac Ivy and Ivy scored unassisted. Darling added the final two goals of the day on feeds from Andy Jameson and Chris Farrar.

Coach Childs took some encouragement from the final eight minutes and from the work of Ryan on faceoffs as they prepare for the upcoming conference schedule. 

Connor Mishaw made six saves in goal to earn the win for the visitors.

The Eagles (1-3) begin MAC play on Wednesday with a home game against Elizabethtown College.

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