SWARTHMORE, Pa. - Eastern Men's Lacrosse stumbled in the fourth quarter Saturday losing to host Swarthmore College. The Garnet used a four-goal fourth quarter to overcome a 5-4 deficit and claim their first win of the season.

"We dominated every area of the game except where it mattered on the scoreboard," said Head Coach Kevin Wallace. "We had too many turnovers at key times of the game."

Eastern (0-2) got off to a quick start scoring in the opening quarter of play. Mark Buannic finished off a pass from Elliot Moore to give the Eagles the 1-0 lead. Swarthmore (1-0) tied the game up early in the second quarter when the Garnets forced a turnover and Matt Johnson ripped a shot past Jameal Hadeed.

The Eagles responded 16 seconds later when Mett Lee won the ensuing faceoff and got the ball to Brian Mizell, who found the back of the net to make it 2-1. Swarthmore would tie the game up two more times in the second quarter, but Eastern always responded with a goal of their own. Tied at three apiece with just over three and a half minutes to play in the half Buannic once again finished off a pass from Moore giving the Eagles a 4-3 lead going into halftime.

Elliot Moore gave Eastern a 5-3 lead in the third but the Garnet pulled within one, 5-4, heading into the fourth. Swarthmore kept the momentum going and tallied back-to-back goals 54 seconds apart to take a 6-5 lead. For the first time, all game the Eagles found themselves trailing. Jake Pousson tied the game at 6-6 with just under seven minutes left to play in the game, but Eastern was unable to sustain the momentum.

"We looked out of gas on defense in the fourth quarter," continued Wallace. "Give them credit. Swarthmore finished their opportunities."

Swarthmore scored twice in two minutes to pull out to an 8-6 lead. The Eagles had two more offensive possessions, but Jake Billera's shot was saved by John Calia and with just over a minute to play the Eagles turned the ball over.

Eastern outshot the Garnet 36-26 putting 17 of those shots on goal. The Eagles also were perfect in the clearing game going 14-14 but struggled again on extra man opportunities going 0-2.

Lee scooped up a game-high ten ground balls and went 13-18 on faceoffs. Hadeed made seven saves on the afternoon.

"We need to be better in every area of the game, and we have a week and a half to work on it before our next game," concluded Wallace.

Eastern takes on The Catholic University of America on March 3rd in Bradenton, Fla.