COLLEGEVILLE, Pa.- Playing in its third game in five days, Eastern University Men's Lacrosse saw an early three-goal lead slip away in a 7-3 loss at Ursinus College. The Bears (5-0) scored five times in the second half to earn the win in very windy and cold conditions.

The two teams entered tonight's contest as teams receiving votes in the most recent Divsion III Coaches Poll. When the game started, the athleticism looked like two ranked teams, but the execution was off for both. A combination of windy conditions and tough defense resulted in a lot of balls on the ground throughout the game. In the early going, that worked to the Eagles' advantage. 

Eric Waibel tucked home a Matt Soldano feed 13 minutes in for the only goal of the first period. Waibel, who typically fires from distance, caught the pass right at the edge of the crease, turned and dropped a shot to the lower corner. The same combination resulted in a two-goal Eastern lead with 12 minutes to play in the half. This time Soldano passed from behind the cage and Waibel tagged a low corner with a hard shot from 12 yards out.

Even with the lead, the Eagles never seemed totally comfortable and the offense sputtered with atypically dropped and inaccurate passes. Nonetheless, the Eagles added a third when Grant Ferguson tucked home his 21st goal of the year on a Chris Farrar pass with seven minutes to play in the half.

Ursinus grabbed a goal back with four minutes to play, and then scored a second at the end of an Eastern man-advantage situation to pull within a goal. Though the Eagles had the majority of possession in the half, the advantage on the scoreboard was only a single tally.

That edge was erased midway through the third on an unorthodox dodge and shot from distance bu Robert Dewey, and Ursinus grabbed the lead for good with 33 seconds to play in the third.

Ursinus was able to extend possessions with the lead and, as a result, the Eastern attack seemed to grow less and less patient going to goal. The fourth quarter result was more turnovers than shots for the Eagles.

Aaron Benz made 15 saves in the goal for Eastern (5-2). Brian Neff made 11 saves for the Bears.

Eastern returns to action at Bryn Athyn College on Saturday and will play at Messiah College a week from Thursday.

Box Score